Tour Scotland Travel Video Kilmartin Stones Kilmartin Argyll

Tour Scotland travel video of the Kilmartin Stones, a collection of ancient graveslabs on ancestry visit to the parish church in the village of Kilmartin, Argyll, Scotland. The earliest stones date back to the thirteenth or fourteenth centuries, with the most recent ones dated 1707 and 1712. Originally, the stones would have been laid flat on the ground to cover a grave. After the Reformation, many of the stones were moved, and in 1956 they were moved inside a shelter to protect them from the weather. The symbolism of the motifs carved onto the slabs is the subject of much discussion and speculation. Many feature swords or claymores, some alone, others with surrounding designs of twining or interlaced foliage. Several depict armed men. Other motifs include crosses, animals and shears; a comb appears with shears on one stone. It has been suggested that several of the slabs may commemorate Knights Templar but this theory is as yet unproven. Kilmartin Glen is the richest prehistoric landscape in Scotland. Within an area not much over 6 miles long a huge diversity of standing stones, stone circles, carved rocks and ancient tombs can be found.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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