Tullich, Aberdeenshire

a reappraisal of an early ecclesiastical site and its carvedstones in the light of recent excavations

Abstract

Long known as an early church site, the importance of Tullich in Aberdeenshire may often have been underestimated. An evaluation and excavation were undertaken prior to the extension of the modern graveyard and have produced evidence of both inner and outer enclosures around the church that yielded good radiocarbon dates for development of the site in the 7th to 9th centuries and for continued activity in the medieval period. Two early grave markers were found during the excavation, bringing the present total of carved stones from the site to 16 cross-marked slabs and a Pictish symbol stone, a quantity which makes Tullich unique in Aberdeenshire and strongly indicates a religious community established by the late 7th century. The newly discovered crosses have prompted a reappraisal of the full corpus of early medieval carved stones from the site.