Clach an Tiompain

Clach an Tiompain
(The Eagle Stone)
Clach an Tiompain, Strathpeffer
Material	Blue gneiss
Size	32 inches (81 cm)
Classification	Class I incised stone
Symbols	Horseshoe Eagle
Created	500-700AD
Present location	Strathpeffer, Easter Ross grid ref NH48455852 ^[1]Coordinates: 57°35′29″N 4°32′8″W / 57.59139°N 4.53556°W / 57.59139; -4.53556

The Clach an Tiompain (in English, the "Sounding Stone") or The Eagle Stone is a small Class I Pictish stone^[1] located on a hill on the northern outskirts of Strathpeffer in Easter Ross, Scotland.

Description

The stone is made of blue gneiss and is 32 inches (81 cm) high, 24 inches (61 cm) wide, and 10 inches (25 cm) thick.^[1] Carved on the southeast side are two images, a horse shoe-like arc symbol above an eagle.

History

The stone was originally located further down the hill, towards Dingwall, but was moved to its current site in 1411.^[2] One old tradition is that the stone marks the site of a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1411 between the Clan Munro and a branch of the Clan MacDonald, and that the stone commemorates a Munro victory as it is marked with their symbol, an eagle.^[3]

The stone is associated with the prophecies of the 16th century Brahan Seer (Scottish Gaelic: Coinneach Odhar). He predicted that if the stone fell three times, the surrounding valley would be flooded, and the stone used as an anchor.

It has since fallen twice, and is now set in concrete.

References

1 2 3 Site Record for Strathpeffer, Clach An Tiompain, Strathpeffer, The Eaglestone, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland . Has some nice pictures, including drawings of the images
↑ Scott, Douglas, The Stones of the Pictish Peninsulas, (Hilton Trust, 2004).
↑ Gracie, James. "the Munros". Published by Lang Syne Publishers Ltd, 1997, 2007. Chapter 2. Pages 18 - 19. ISBN 978-1-85217-080-6.

Pictish sculptured stones

Ross	Ardjachie Stone Dingwall Stone Edderton Cross Slab Edderton Standing Stone Gairloch Stone Hilton of Cadboll Stone Nigg Stone Poolewe Stone Portmahomack sculpture fragments Rosemarkie Stone Rosemarkie sculpture fragments Rosskeen Stone Shandwick Stone Strathpeffer Stone

Badenoch and Strathspey	Advie Stone Ballintomb Stone Congash Stones Dunachton Stone Findlarig Stone Grantown Stone Inverallan Stone Lynchurn Stone

Moray	Dandaleith stone Rodney's Stone Sueno's Stone

Inverness	Balbair Stones Culaird Stone Dores Stone Drumbuie Stone Garbeg Stone Invereen Stone Kingsmills Stone Knocknagael Stone Lochardill Stone Torgorm Stone

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire	Ardlair Stone Aquhollie Stone Brandsbutt Stone Broomend of Crichie stone Cairnton stone Dyce stones Fordoun Stone Fyvie Stones Kintore stones Logie Elphinstone Stones Maiden Stone Migvie Stone Monymusk Stone Nether Corskie Stone Newbigging, Leslie Stone Newton House Stones Picardy Stone Rhynie Stones Tillytarmont Stones

Angus	Aberlemno Sculptured Stones Balluderon Stone Camus Cross Drosten Stone Dunnichen Stone Eassie Stone Glamis Manse Stone Hunter's Hill Stone Kirriemuir Sculptured Stones Monifieth Sculptured Stones St Orland's Stone St Vigeans Sculptured Stones Strathmartine Castle Stone Woodwrae Stone

Perth and Kinross	Bullion Stone Dupplin Cross Meigle standing stones

Fife	Abdie stone

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