The place name of Borrobol is of Norse origin and means the barley township. The rich farmland would have been prized by the Norse invaders when they arrived in Kildonan around the 10th century AD.
The earlier occupants of the area were the Picts who inhabited Kildonan from 300AD-900AD. The name Picts was attributed to the people living in the North and East of Scotland, by the Romans, which means ‘Painted people’.
The Picts were a group of celtic-spekaing peoples whose distinctive artwork can be seen carved into stones all around Pictland. The symbols and patterns include animals, objects and bosses and spiral designs. These patterns are repeated on jewellry and later illuminated manuscripts.
The Pictish stone on display was discovered in 2009, lying face down in a burnt on Borrobol Estate. It gives us a tantalising glimpse into the mysterious world of the Picts and gives us an indication that the locality must have been inhabited as early as the 6th century.
The incised stone depicts early Pictish symbols, the “crescent and V-rod” and the hindquarters of an animal, possibly a boar, stag or horse. These animals have all been found on other Pictish stones of this age. Have a closer look – what do you think?