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Clach Ard is a symbol stone located near Tote in Carbost, Inverness-shire. The monument sits upon bedrock of Palaeogene extrusive rocks, comprising mafic lava and tuff laid down during volcanic activity in the early Tertiary period. This geological setting, characteristic of the Inner Hebridean landscape, provided dark igneous stone that Pictish craftspeople selected for carved monuments.
The stone displays the carved symbols typical of Pictish art from the early medieval period, probably dating between the 6th and 9th centuries. Such monuments served important functions within Pictish society, functioning as territorial markers, burial monuments or commemorative stones. Their precise meanings remain debated by scholars, though the symbols themselves—geometric patterns and animal forms—appear consistent across Pictish territories.
Clach Ard is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM935. The stone's survival and recorded location contribute to understanding the distribution and concentration of Pictish symbol stones across the Highlands and islands, revealing patterns of settlement and cultural significance within early medieval northern Britain.
Clach Ard,symbol stone,Tote,Carbost is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM935. View the official record →
Clach Ard is a symbol stone located near Tote in Carbost, Inverness-shire. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM935.
Clach Ard,symbol stone,Tote,Carbost is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM935.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Skeabost Island,St Columba's Church & other ecclesiastical remains (0.6 km), Kensaleyre Church, cairns and standing stones 1200m SSE of (1.6 km), Carn Liath,chambered cairn 380m SW of Kensaleyre Church (2.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Clach Ard,symbol stone,Tote,Carbost's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Clach Ard,symbol stone,Tote,Carbost stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.