The Peterhead symbol stone is one of several Neolithic monoliths re-used by the Picts as symbol stones. It stands in a field on what may be cairn material at the north end of Glen Eagles and Glen Devon affording spectacular views down the glens. The stone is around 6 feet high and is roughly cylindrical in shape.

Peterhead Symbol Stone and Glendevon

The north face of the stone is incised with two Pictish symbols, the unusual goose and the more common rectangle. Both symbols are quite heavily weathered, the goose especially so.

The goose symbol appears in two different forms (which may be two separate symbols): the form shown here which is facing right, but looking backwards over its shoulder or facing forwards as seen only on the Tillytarmont 1 stone.

The rectangle symbol appears in many different forms. In this instance, it has two horizontal incisions across it breaking it into three thick horizontal “stripes”. In other cases, it can be decorated with crescent and V-rod style designs, as seen on some of the stones in Dunrobin Museum.

3D render of the symbols

We scanned the symbol bearing face of this stone for our own records.