Picts: Part 1- Symbols and Signs 

Very interesting. I was taught as a child that the crescent and v-rod was an instruction on how to build calendar - at sunrise on midsummer, you place three tall stones in the ground in a triangle, so the tallest stone’s shadow falls between the other two, and the angle from the tallest stone to the other two matches the angle of the v-rod. The next year, you watch the sunrise shadow each morning, and when it touches the first of the smaller stones, it’s time to sow. When the sunrise shadow reaches the second of the smaller stones, it’s time to harvest. I’m sure the climate was different back then, but as a rudimentary calendar, this does still work for the short growing season in Orkney, where I grew up.

In an era of glitz and HD and history know it alls and wanna be's... I thank you for your work and time and effort! I just read down through the comments... everyone is an expert when sitting behind their computer at a safe distance... the truth is most ALL is speculation, AND as in most history, it will ever evolve as sites are dug and examined and new technologies are afforded... but taking the film to the various places in the landscape, and sharing your version, is fabulous... we can all draw our own conclusions, but not without your film. I appreciate your individuality on all of it! Much needed in a world full of 'sameness' and 'judgement'! Thank you!!

As a student at uni, I did a big project on the Picts so I had the excuse to travel all over Scotland visiting the stones and taking photos. Many a cold night camping in a field, but well worth it.

A broken arrow is a common symbol in Serbian traditional songs, meaning that after a victory, the weapon breaks down so that the enemy does not return. Broken weapons are placed in the graves of warriors for the same reasons, and often such broken weapons are thrown into the river.

My great grandfather was from Scotland. My last name was Douglass. Thank you for the information you provided. I am from the USA.

Great videos. As someone who is of Irish, Welsh, and German ancestry, I find this history of our ancestors fascinating. We are certainly diverse. My brother was a curly ginger haired man in a straight dark-haired family and seemed out of place. It wasn't until I met my cousin ( who looks more like my brother than me ) that I realised that gene was inside us. Thanks a million.

Great work, thank you. The meaning of the symbols is still speculative, but one thing I would suggest: the idea that a mirror and comb is female is anachronistic. It is a modern idea that looking good and being concerned with appearance is something female! For most of history male warriors wore jewelry, dressed their hair, and were very fussy about their clothes - just as much, if not more, than women.

Excellent video! I have visited many of these enigmatic stones on my many trips to your fair country and was fortunate to see the Dupplin Cross in situ. The harpist on the side was particularly moving for me… and I got to sit alone with this magnificent sculpture for several hours until dusk began to settle over the valley below. While that sounds nostalgic I was also keenly aware that the stone needed to be protected…glad to see that has now been done. Your video is beautifully shot, edited, narrated and produced. Congratulations!

I've been to many of these carved stones, class 1 and 2, and it is still a mystery as to what they are conveying, great to see someone at least trying to decipher the mystery. What amazed me is the beautiful stylisation that hints at either the same artist or a standardisation reflecting a lost pictographic language. There are markings on some stones we saw that were on stone circles that look far more ancient and scratched out like a T with two bars that I noticed also at a circle/cairn on a farmer's land near Mulloch forest, beneath and around from the seven stanes. Why did the Scottish natives forget what they meant and what they were for if they've been there all this time as a people ? The V rod symbol looks like a bow, a spear and a 'ceremonial' mace.

You know most of my life I've been told that the Celts and the pics had no written language... thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Brilliant stuff. It is relatively hard to find good information about the Picts. This is the best that I have come across.

Excellent upload, this is a very good documentary, informative and enjoyable, all the things a good BBC documentary USED to be.

The key to unlocking the mystery of the Picts is their art. Maybe like the hieroglyphics there's a message communicated in the pictures. Speaking from beyond the grave!

Thanks so much ! I learned my great grama Fanny Couts, born near Aberdeen, was in the oldest developed area in Scotland from you. Nice.

Informative presentation! I really enjoyed the live shots of the stones and the clarification of the symbols. It's equally refreshing to find an objective viewpoint, where an ancient civilisation is concerned - We are on RU-vid, after all.

I know Gobekli Tepe was thousands of years earlier but there is alot of similarities.

these stones were probably moved numerous times in prehistory as well as in recent times - further complicating our understanding of origin and meaning. Sacred objects and sites have been re-used, desecrated, poorly "excavated", redefined and integrated into later traditions since the earliest times. It is hard not to think the "crescent and v-rod" is a broken arrow and bow symbolizing an end to a conflict, a surrender, or a peace treaty.

Thank you. This information makes me want to dig deeper into the history of the Irish and Scotts peoples.

I love history and am drawn to the ancient highlands in my heart. Instinctually, my brain interprets the symbols very differently. Far more fantastical. Like an epic fantasy imagery.

OUTSTANDING videography and photography. Outstanding presentation, both in content and in articulation. I especially appreciate the presenter speaking in complete sentences, using proper grammar... quite a contrast to the informal street-language articulations of many RU-vid presenters today, who seem not to know that there are standards for proper discourse ! But then, few people today are even able to write a composition using proper English style and grammar.

A superb piece of documentary work. Well done!

Striking image 15:24 . Oddly intrigued by the ebb and flow of the shields. Thank you for this presentation.

Hi there and greetings from Germany! I've got a good friend in Peterhead whom we frequently visit. One year we focussed on the castles in this area, the stone circles and last time we focussed on Pictish stones and climbed up to some Pictish forrtresses. I .ike to just sit in front of them and londer about what these enigmatic symbols might have meant and why the Picts just simply vanished from history. I hope that these stones will keep their mystery and look forward to visit bonnie Scotland again. Currently I wear a small silver plate with the V rod and the moon symbol on a leather band round my neck.

Very good documenary , good research and well explained. Finally! Thanks from Germany

The v-crescent at 4:30 certainly looks like a broken arrow and a bow to me, reminiscent of the bent swords that the Celts were fond of burying with dead warriors and the like. The double disc could be a broken spear and a shield but I've never seen a shield exactly like that before (though the famous bronze one dredged from the Thames is kinda close; and oddly enough the Mycenean figure-eight shield seems closest).

Nice video my friend, great research. Thank you.

Simply fascinating!

This is a fascinating subject and a brilliantly made documentary . Thanks .

I'm loving these!!!

Very enjoyable. Thank you for your work.

Thank you this was so very interesting about to watch the next one now!

I learned a lot, thank you for sharing. Warm regards from Portugal!

yep, really enjoyed this. well presented.

Excellent presentation. Outstanding narration.

Thank you very much from Texas.

Random observation - At 4:43 the crescent and v-rod looks a lot like a bow and broken/bent arrow.

fabulous introduction to Pictish petroglyphs

or signifying locations and clans. Could the snake be a river and the mounds the paps of Danu? The mirror and comb symbolizing not women but the vain and well-groomed Nords. They could be telling a story with the symbols of different people and places. Each symbol an identifier of tribes?

My own view is that the "Rosetta Stone", at least for one particular symbol, you show in the video. In the Sculptors Cave you show a carving of a Crescent and V-rod. To my eyes, this can only have one single interpretation - a bow and a broken arrow. The extreme antiquity of these symbols is then attested by the fact that a high degree of stylisation has been applied to the later carvings, which has somewhat obscured their composition. Hence, the "orange segment" shape of the simple bow (yew longbow), later became stylised with the bowstring curving "in sympathy" with the curve of the bow, to create a crescent shape. The stylised forms at either end of the V-rod are generally slightly different, as they symbolise the head and the fletchings of the arrow. This can be much more clearly seen in the Sculptors Cave carving. Also, V-rods and indeed Z-rods are very often carved with a deltoid shape in the crux of the angles of the rods. This I believe to be an allusion to how the fibres of wood splinter and separate, when a wooden rod is broken in half. The fibres on the outside of the break will remain straight, but those on the inside of the break will bend into a curve, and not break. Thereby inferring the deltoid shape carved in the V and Z-rods. As the V-rods were broken arrows, so the Z-rods were broken spears, depicted over the top of figure 8 shaped shields ("Double Disk" shape). In the manner of the Battersea Shield housed in the British Museum. The "elephant" or "whale", to my mind is actually a stylised depiction of an intact animal hide (deer hide?). Which has undergone a certain amount of drying, as can be seen on the legs and the belly, which have curlicues carved into them, to indicate the curling of the skin as it dries. The curved line emanating from the top of the head - and tail, could well indicate a thong used to hang the hide while drying. The "Tuning Fork" and the rectangular shape, with often two curved extremities emanating from the corner of the rectangle both indicate (to my mind) iron razors for shaving the face. Archaeological examples of these can be found in various places, as can modern reproductions, and they follow on from the shape of bronze precedents. This interpretation partners other symbols, such as the Comb and Mirror, as implements of personal grooming. I think the distribution of these symbols, and the extreme age of them (as symbols) which is evidenced by the high degree of stylisation the later carvings depict, leads me to conclude that they were in fact tribal symbols. In the manner of, say, Soccer badges. Which if correct would lead one to the conclusion that "The Picts" were in fact a CONFEDERATION of pre-Roman indigenous Brythonic speaking tribes, which had existed in Scotland since time immemorial. The inscription of a particular symbol (V-rod, Animal Skin, Z-rod, etc.) on a given stone being an indication of the "jurisdiction" and/or dedication to, which tribes the stone came under. Therefore a V-rod might symbolise the Novantae, and the Z-rod might symbolise the Selgovae (although those kingdoms were in the south west of Scotland - possibly the "Southern Pictland" of Bede). The more symbols within a given carved stone would indicate a greater number of "Pictish" tribes/kingdoms to whom the stone is dedicated. The fact that there are carved Pictish symbols at the gateway to Trusty's Hill in Dumfries and Galloway would indicate that there were indeed surviving "Southern Picts" who had not yet been superseded by later immigrant kingdoms. The presence of the Z-rod on this particular carved stone could thus indicate that the other symbol (a Carnyx) could well have been the tribal insignia of the Novantae, partnered with the Z-rod which would indicate the over-arching "Pictish" confederacy/Kingdom. Al speculation, of course. But I believe this hypothesis to be in-line with currently known evidence.

This is great. I'm from about 18 miles from Bennachie. Some of the family had a large farm near there. great to see other people enjoying learning about our culture

This is really well done !

Cross symbolises divinity in a presence of a man. Horizontal line being the time line and vertical line spiritual, as in nature all that is significant to a man; for example a tree, plant, the growth itself, is vertical and the circle around the middle symbolises rebirth, sun conforting nature, wich replenishes in itself.

yes sir i agree, they are magnificent, thank you for sharing

Thank you for the videos

I believe that the Pictish Beast really is an elephant from the ancient world.

Great video Mr short thank you

Pictish draw-ids of the cairnish culture are a great historical connection for Picards, Packards, Pickelners, and Picassos.

Great video, thank you.

Awesome Video. Thanks.

Thanks 🙏🙏🙏 so much interesting information.

Thank you for your videos. Now for some questions: After seeing so many of these symbols* referred to as disks and double disks etc); I see a possible connection between them and stone circles. Could it be that they are markers for these stone circles? A marker on a road/pathway to them? I've seen the snake/serpent symbol described as energy...there are many earthen mounds shaped like serpents and have been shown to have higher levels of magnetic energy than surrounding areas. Could the snake/serpent symbol denote energies?

I am from a country in the UK called Wales a very Celtic country, on the farm I work on there is a standing stone with engravings on it of a what looks like a mirror a snake and what could be some type of comb, anybody knows what this could mean?

Fascinating!

Has anyone tried to look at this from the perspective of archeoasteonomy? The first one you show looks especially like the sunrise on Taurus(?) Maybe it was part of a calendar (like stone henge)?

Fascinating

Can u do an bird eye view of the stones in the beginning. Z-rod is two compasses illustrating as above so below. that when a measurement is made the out come is predetermined. Also some of these stones would be like a business card / knowledge of mathematical theorems

I have always found Pictish history fascinating and the little we know about it just adds to the mystique.

Fantastic channel and content

I have many many objects with weird and amazing sculptures on them and find them in North East England, north of the Tyne and they're the most astonishing sculptures, and I would love to know who has made them. They're high class sculpture that leave you baffled.

the stones stand at the boundary of petty kingdoms, (estates, baronies, areas, parishes etc)as do early singular prehistoric stones

Superb

Excellent. Thank you sir, liked and subbed.

many stones placed in a circle dating back to the Bronze Age were found in Khakassia (Siberia), Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and some of them are carved. Some stones are up to 6 meters high

In my opinion the Z-rod symbol represents the journey of the soul to the Afterlife.

there may be a clue at 19:59 as there is a message in the oldest language, Ogham running up the stone on the left side.

Yes indeed, very well done. I wish Joseph Campbell could have had a look at the meaning of the symbols. The two discs, circle objects could represent one of the basic tenants of the perennial philosophy of duality and the going between the primary thoughts of fear and desire. I would think that would be the starting point, which makes me question Mr Professor. No reflection on the documentary. He is stating as it is...sort of.

Merci mille fois!

Thank you for the info on these theories. When we saw the stone age caves in France along the Dordogne we were told by the guides the symbols were thought to designate different tribes or groups living in the area , although they are much simpler and primitive dating back 10,000-30,000 yrs . Same thing, many animals and then circles and discs. One thing that is interesting is on these Scot stone there appears to be arrows. In France, along the Vezere no arrows at all, but remember those stone carvings are much earlier. One thing that appear there in France is something that seems to represent a fence or net. So, it appears in those very early days, they did not have arrows, were trapping the animals with nets and bludgening them with stones.

You say crescent & v rod, I see a bow and arrow. You say circles & a z rod, I see a pulley system. They drew what they used in everyday life.

Pretty cool stuff.........

I enjoyed this video very much....however the stone at 18:44 puzzled me....could the line markings on the right hand side of the stone be ogham?

6.30 Translation is "Do not hunt with Dolphins 2 Lunar months before and after the Shortest Day.". There is more I cannot make out.

At 4:35 I see a bow and arrow (arrow head on the left, tail end on the right), although the arrow is angled/bent. I have had a few though.

Wonderful video, I have tried several other sites saying that they are about the picts, but they don't show anything even close to this one

I can't believe more people haven't seen this , lot of info

would you happen to know the name of the river you're walking by or the location name of where you are at 0:55 to 1:06? It's beautiful! If anybody knows it would be super helpful!

I think that maybe the information provided here was gathered by researchers that did not understand mathematics/calculus. If you were to look at a sun path diagram and compare it to certain ranges of longitude in Scotland and do some calculations then you would get a symbol closely resembling the crescent v rod. Remember that many groups utilized standing stones and in formations that would give them ideas of the start of harvest and end of harvest and planting season. Tracking the time of the seasons by many cultures was important for growing . How else could you explain large rocks aligned in such a way that they line up with the equinoxes and solstices? There usually was a main rock for centre or mark for centre with stones in a circle. Many of the Pictish stones had other stones near them or were moved from original formations. If you look at a longitude for lets say north Scotland or main pict land like Aberdeen at 57 degrees and make calculations with times for equinoxes/solstices then you will draw out the symbol of the crescent v rod. Always ask a mathematician to look at geometric shapes and symbols and they usally have the best answers. Grasping that the symbols represented a person or a dead person is a reach when many stones in formations have that symbol. Mark centre of a sun path diagram with a stone and place 2 other stones on fall and spring equinoxes for the 57 degree longitude and turn on a light source. You get the shadow of the v rod and calculate the arc for the crescent.

The crescent is a BOW, the V is a broken arrow. Signifies the power of warfare ended, perhaps means a peace between warring tribes. As in this is a place of peace.

good video👍

Are the bluer tinged stones older than the other stones and could the bluer stones be a CLAN related thing?

Has anyone tried to use the technique that was used to decipher the Maytan glyphs? As representing syllables or words?

Ogham script at 9:22, on the left side of the stone.

I think 2:50 tells that someone had died during hunting. It must have been common during that time. The broken bow and arrow and the beast standing over it...

17.2 nice touch the colour purple saturn code :)

2:48 a bit like the masonic square n compass. Or could represent the 2 yearly solstice' (sun setting between 2 hills, and looks about rite with the angle of the rod. Maybe the solstice' can be seen best from that site as other depictions do not have the same design inside the crescent)

the river boundaries of parishes do represent older boundaries, other ancient monuments correspond to these boundaries

Translation on this side is "Do not hunt middle left. "on a day" middle right. A day 3 Lunar months bottom left. . A month or day 3 Lunar months. "Do not..... 2 Lunar months before and after the Shortest Day. There is more I cannot see on the back. You walk around the stone to read it.

great thanks

As others have said that inverted V shape looks like a broken arrow, point at one end, feathers at the other. Simply as an old man and not as a scholar, I suggest that that could mean "the man died". The arrow, for its symbolism of maleness, gets broken when the man dies. Is it possible that the mirror and the comb is a similar message: "Here was a woman."

If the later symbols were used to picture their new religion why can the old ones not have the same function?

Thank you for this video. I have found one book about the Picts

Maybe their gang signs marking territories that were put in place for travelers to see whose territory they were entering?

I work in Angus (Glamis) I’ve found some amazing stuff out on the hill there’s even runrigs

I always thought the z rod symbols were more indicitive of plant matter than a spear or arrow. The picts are very naturalistic in their depictions of things they see in daily life... i always thought they were fertility symbolism, they always begin with a sprout like symbol and then concludes in leaves or wheat like tendrils. If it was a spear or arrow i think theyd just carve it that way realistically. The double discs could be thought of as solar, while the crescent can obviously be thought of as indicitive of some type of lunar activity. The growth of crops, the seasonal changes and the rituals involved, it wouldnt be a stretch to hypothesize that the picts had some manner of astronomical knowledge.. they had to have seen and noticed such events as the moon's cycle, or solar and lunar eclipses, the length of days and amounts of daylight, etc. For a while i also thought these symbols could be boundary markers- the picts were known for their silver craft.. i wonder if the comb and mirror were a clan symbol? Or a city symbol? Maybe The clan/place of silversmiths? Or even an ancient silver mine? The disk and rod shapes could symbolize farmland areas and families, the dolphin/elephant creature could symbolize the ocean/coastal fishing areas and the clans that operate there. But Who really knows right? the lightning strike idea, and the two burial mounds with broken spears and arrows idea for the z-rod symbols was a new theory to me. So nice to see some actual quality info on the picts... there's just such a small amount of it out there and even fewer people who are actually looking for it

The "Double Disc and Zed-Rod" is clearly an armed Pict on a Push-Bike...they were ahead of their time, only held back by the lack of good rubber plants oZ''o

Anyone stopped to think the visable marks are a deflection tactic and a closer look at the stones will show micro carvings?

The crescent and the v-rod sure looks like a bow with a bent arrow to me….. specifically the depiction in the cave.

As to the ostensible hand mirrors: what were the polished surfaces made of? The glass or obsidian or polished metal or whatever should have survived. Has any such relic been found?

Could they be the last remnants of a Scythian tribe?

4.40 Translation is "Do not eat". There is more missing.