The Drosten Stone: a new reading

Abstract

The Drosten Stone (St Vigeans 1) is a Pictish carved stone of the ninth century AD. This paper seeks to interpret the inscription on that stone as containing a Gaelic time expression coupled with a personal name: i ré Uoret. This would allow for close dating of the stone, to 839--842, the dates of the Pictish king Uurad, son of Bargoit. Evidence is introduced from inscriptions elsewhere in the insular world, both to reinforce the suggested time expression, and to suggest the purpose of the stone and the possible nature of the persons commemorated on it.