Thanks, Fiona. I'll certainly look at this paper, first opportunity. Note than when I looked at this for the thesis I classified the name as antiquarian, so not claiming it as contemporary with those who may have used the monument as the comparison implies. Would be wonderful to know what those coining the name knew / thought of them though!
Thanks, Fiona. I'll certainly look at this paper, first opportunity. Note than when I looked at this for the thesis I classified the name as antiquarian, so not claiming it as contemporary with those who may have used the monument as the comparison implies. Would be wonderful to know what those coining the name knew / thought of them though!
May your GIS plan, to fruition come...
Very interesting and persuasive - thank you! You might be interested in what I said about Sueno's Stone in my PhD on ethnonyms in place-names https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/handle/10023/4164
p42
A further Cruithnian-name, assuming translation, is a boundary feature for Burgie
in Moray. Recorded in 1221 as a hybrid in a Latin context, Rune Pictorum† RAF-MOR
seems to be a field associated with the twenty-foot sculptured Sueno's Stone. In the light
of the other Cruithnian-names, the safest conclusion is that this, too, is antiquarian in
motivation.
Appx p261 (formatting lost)
Rune Pictorum RAF-MOR † (Rafford). Antiquarian name. Ch. 3 Cruithnians: probable.
NJ046595 (?).
A boundary marker for Burgie {Grant & Leslie 1798} (Shaw 1882 i, 13). Sueno's Stone – a
20' sculptured monument (Canmore, 15785).
'The carne of the Pethis or the Pechts seildis [sic]' (REM no. 4 p. 457). 'The carne of the
Pethis or the Pechts feildis', probably associated with the Forres sculptured pillar [Sueno's
Stone] (REM, xxx). 'The Picts' cairn' {Grant & Leslie 1798} (Shaw 1882 i, 13).
1221 Rune Pictorum (acc.) (REM, xxx; REM no. 4 pp. 456, 457)
ScG n.m/f. raon + gen. pl. of Ln n.m. *Pictus
ScG *Raon Chruithneach – 'field associated with the Picts'
The generic in Rune Pictorum also appears in Runetwethel (acc.), 'field associated with
ScG masc. anthro. Tuathal'. Both names are in a list of boundary marks for Burgie, along
with other clearly Gaelic names. Rather than a loan word in untypically incorrect Latin
grammar, this appears to be undeclined ScG n.m/f. raon 'field' in Older Scots orthography.
The grid reference is supplied by Sueno's Stone, (re-)erected at the apex of a spur of the
parish of Rafford MOR near Burgie. Translation of the Gaelic ethnonym is assumed. The
REM interpretations comes from a MS translation of four names from Gaelic to Older
Scots which was added to the original charter; but interpretation as 'cairn' has no obvious
basis. The plural interpretation of rune in REM may be seeking to make the reference
agree with Latin grammar.
Really fascinating! Look forward to seeing where you get with the research :)
Great stuff. Alex Sanmark might have some thoughts about the ancient geography and sea levels, as she is working on similar questions in the northern and western isles. Also, are you aware of Luisa Izzi-Greens excellent 2013 paper? https://www.socantscot.org/resource/trajans-column-on-his-doorstep-investigating-the-romanitas-of-suenos-stone/