Reconsidering the Forres cross-slab (Sueno’s Stone), part 1

dating and historical context

Abstract

Standing over 6.5m high, the Forres cross-slab (NJ 04655 59533), erroneously known as Sueno’s Stone, is Scotland’s tallest early medieval carved stone monument. Featuring an impressive series of battle scenes on one side of the monument and a large interlace decorated ring-headed cross on the other, the cross-slab has seen repeated attempts to link its creation to known historical events and to date the stone through art-historical parallels. In the 1990s excavations around the base of the slab identified a circular setting of post holes interpreted as a derrick setting built to enable the erection of the stone. New radiocarbon dates from this post-setting provide support for a 9th-century date for the carving. The 9th century was a time of major change in the balance of power of Pictland/Alba and the stone may have been created as a statement of continuing authority by rulers in the north whose control was under considerable threat or as a memorial of imperial pretensions planted at Forres by rulers in the south whose power was growing.