Alves and Altyre stone

Highland (Mainland) 8

Image by GLADMAN

tuesday Apr 13, 2005 12:33:16

I wonder if anyone knows of the provenance of the stone on the private estate of Altyre near Forres on the north west Scottish coast? We found a reference to it in the nineteenth century 'Annals of Forres' claiming that it had been moved there from 'the stones at Alves'. Alves is a village to the south east - and there is a generally unknown and fairly ruinous stone circle there.

The Altyre stone (or 'the black slab' as its known) is sometimes referred to as a 'Pictish cross' - a very fine example of which stands encaged in a hideous hi-tech box (courtesy of Historic Scotland) in Forres. Although there are carvings, we doubt that the stone is in fact such. The carvings may well have been applied later. It is a beautiful stone - 12ft high and as thin as the central stone at Callanish I.

If anyone has any more information - on the Altyre stone - or on Alves, we would be very interested to hear it...

follow that cow Apr 13, 2005 13:23:37

Replying to tuesday

Is this any help to you?

Taken from a CANMORE search.

Type of Site: Cross-Slab: Ogam-Inscribed
NMRS Number: NJ05NW 34

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Site Details Images on-line Collection Summary

Location

Map reference: NJ 0391 5537
Parish: Rafford
Council: Moray
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Archaeology Notes
NJ05NW 34 0391 5537

See also NJ16NW 20.

(NJ 0391 5537) Sculptured Stone (NR) Runic
OS 6" map (1938)

The sandstone pillar, at Altyre, was brought there from the Laich, probably about 1820. According to the late H W Young of Elgin it came from the college field at the village of Rose isle (J R Allen and J Anderson 1903). Traditionally this stone is confused with a monument (Moray 6 SE 6) erected to commemorate the defeat of King Duncan by Thorfinn in 1040, or a victory won by Malcolm II over Camus the Dane. The Altyre stone is at least two centuries older than King Duncan. Its total height is given by Stuart as 15ft; slightly over 11ft now appears above ground level. It is 34in wide and 7in thick. The cross on the front is still partially preserved. Only the vertical beam remains of that on the back. The Ogham inscription on the slightly recessed flat of the undressed left side is 49in long and reaches up to a point 5ft from the summit. It reads AMMAQQAAHALIMVBVMA (?) AHHRRSSUDDS or AMMAQQADALLMVBVMA (?) AHHRRSSUDDS. Its meaning is unknown.
W M Calder and K Jackson 1959; J Stuart 1856

This Ogham-inscribed cross-slab is as described above. It is 3.3m high from the present ground level, and is surrounded by a wooden fence.
Revised at 25".
Visited by OS (NKB) 16 August 1965

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References

Allen and Anderson, J R and J (1903 )
The early Christian monuments of Scotland: a classified illustrated descriptive list of the monuments with an analysis of their symbolism and ornamentation,
Edinburgh, Pt 3, 136,

Calder and Jackson, W M and K (1959 )
'An inscription from Altyre',
Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 90, 1956-7, 246-50,

Rhind, W (ed.) (1839 )
Sketches of the past and present state of Moray,
'Illustrations drawn and sketched by D Alexander esq.' 'Edinburgh: Printed by Andrew Shortrede, Thistle Lane', Elgin, opp. p 129,

Stuart, J (1856 a)
Sculptured stones of Scotland,
1, Aberdeen, 35,