Forteviot: A Pictish and Scottish Royal Centre [Paperback]

Nick Aitchison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006

The royal centre of Forteviot in Strathearn, Perthshire is one of the most famous early medieval sites in Scotland. It has traditionally been regarded as a royal capital, first of the powerful Pictish kingdom of Fortriu and then of the early Scots. But the royal centre is poorly understood. Much of it disappeared in the early 19th century, swept away by the Water of May, leaving only fragmentary sculpture. However, the function, date, and iconography of the magnificent arch, discovered in the river bed in 1836, have until now remained obscure. This first full-scale study of this famous site sheds new light on Pictish kingship and the Church, enabling one of the most powerful Pictish kings, Unuist son of Uurguist, to emerge from the shadows of historical obscurity.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nick Aitchison is an archaeologist and historian who received his PhD from the University of Glasgow. His earlier book Scotland's Stone of Destiny was praised by Current Archaeology as 'an excellent account, bringing together history, mythology and archaeology'. He now lives in Gloucester.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Tempus (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075243599X
• ISBN-13: 978-0752435992
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,270,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but somewhat disappointing., June 13, 2007

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G. R. Grove "gwernin" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Forteviot: A Pictish and Scottish Royal Centre (Paperback)

This book suffers from the fact that most of the Forteviot site was washed away by a flood about 100 years ago. Consequently, a great deal of what it contains is inference and hypothesis. Still interesting, but somewhat disappointing.

There are some good pictures of the Forteviot Arch, though.