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Rhynie Three Symbol Stones is a Pictish monument comprising three carved stones located 60 metres south-east of Rhynie Manse in Aberdeenshire. The stones are carved with Pictish symbols characteristic of early medieval Scotland, typically incorporating abstract geometric designs and representations of animals such as bulls and eagles. These monuments date to between the sixth and ninth centuries and represent some of the most important surviving evidence of Pictish culture and artistic achievement in northern Britain.
The stones rest upon Lower Old Red Sandstone bedrock, a foundation of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone deposited during the Early Devonian period, millions of years before the Picts occupied this landscape. The Rhynie locality has yielded substantial archaeological evidence of early medieval settlement, indicating this was a location of considerable significance during the Pictish period. The survival and preservation of three symbol stones at a single location is comparatively rare and suggests the site held particular religious or territorial importance.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument under reference SM84, reflecting its national importance as a record of early medieval Scottish heritage. Symbol stones such as these remain among the most enigmatic artefacts of the Pictish age, and their precise function—whether territorial markers, boundary stones, commemorative monuments, or ritual objects—continues to be debated amongst scholars.
Rhynie, three symbol stones 60m SE of Manse is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM84. View the official record →
Rhynie Three Symbol Stones is a Pictish monument comprising three carved stones located 60 metres south-east of Rhynie Manse in Aberdeenshire. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM84.
Rhynie, three symbol stones 60m SE of Manse 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 SM84.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Bell Knowe, cairn, Rhynie (0.2 km), Craw Stane, symbol stone and enclosure 575m E of Mains of Rhynie (0.4 km), Nether Wheedlemont,stone circle 80m NNE of (2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Rhynie, three symbol stones 60m SE of Manse'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.
Rhynie, three symbol stones 60m SE of Manse stands on Lower Old Red Sandstone, bedrock that formed in the Early Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.