The Dupplin Cross, a Pictish era monument which survived on the landscape for 1200 years





This evening, I am posting information on the 9th century A.D., Dupplin Cross which is located in the (now redundant) Dunning Church, about 12 miles S.W.of Perth in central Scotland.
Dunning sits on a very productive plain which has been occupied by man for about 5000 years. Here is a summary of key sites and archaeological finds in the Dunning-Forteviot area:
  • Neolithic henge at Forteviot dating from around 2600 BC.
  • A very rich and important Bronze Age burial tomb at Forteviot dating from around 2000 BC.
  • A Roman marching camp at Dunning dating from the late 1st century, AD.
  • Pictish palace at Forteviot which existed in the 9th century and became the power base of a unified Scotland around AD 845 under Kenneth Mac Alpin. The Picts were the native people of Scotland who were subsumed by the invading Scots.
The Dupplin Cross was associated with the Pictish Palace at Forteviot, about three miles away and stood on open ground, exposed to the elements for about 1200 years. Bearing in mind the cross is carved from sandstone the state of preservation is incredible, especially taking into account the harsh nature of Scottish weather.

Detailed information on the cross can be found here. A summary is as follows:-
  • Dates from around AD 800.
  • Made from sandstone for the Pictish king, King Constantine who ruled AD 789-820.
  • Only surviving complete, free-standing cross from the Pictish region.
  • Stands 3m/9.5 feet high.
Video clip of the Cross 

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The church, St.Serf’s, in which the Dupplin Cross is housed is itself of some antiquity with the tower dating from the 12th century. However, it is likely there were earlier churches on the same site.

The Dupplin Cross can be visited during the summer period.

Dunning Church

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