By Tim Binnall
Researchers in Scotland were overcome with emotion when they unearthed an incredibly rare ancient stone covered in mysterious symbols left behind by the Pictish people who inhabited the country hundreds of years ago. According to an announcement from the University of Amberdeen, the remarkable discovery was made by archeologists surveying a farmer's field in the village of Aberlemno. Their study, which was aimed at developing "a greater understanding of the important Pictish landscape" took a surprising turn when their equipment alerted them something out of the ordinary buried beneath their feet.
The team proceeded to dig a small 'test pit' in an attempt to discern what had been spotted underground and, to their profound surprise, they hit upon a sizeable stone seemingly bearing a symbol. Although the initial discovery was met with some skepticism, recalled archaeologist Dr James O’Driscoll, but their digging soon revealed "more and more and more" symbols on the rock, which measures a whopping five-and-a-half feet long. It was then that they realized that the team had stumbled upon a Pictish symbol stone, an ancient monument created by the early inhabitants of Scotland of which only around 200 have ever been found.
In a testament to the rarity and significance of the find, O’Driscoll says that there were "genuine tears" among the members of the team in response to the discovery. "It's a feeling that I'll probably never have again on an archaeological site," he marveled, musing that there are people who have spent decades working in the field and "this is their dream to find a stone like that." As for the discovery itself, the team say that it likely dates back to around 1,400 years ago and may depict a legendary battle that unfolded in the area. That said, the symbols of the Pictish people remain a mystery to researchers who have yet to fully decipher what the enigmatic markings meant.