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The Dupplin Cross, now at
St Serf's Church,
Dunning , before its removal.

The harper on the Dupplin Cross, Scotland, circa 800 AD
The 'Dupplin Cross' is a carved, monumental
Pictish stone, which dates from around
820. It was first recorded by
Thomas Pennant in 1769, on a hillside in
Strathearn, near
Forteviot and
Dunning. In 2002 it was placed in the care of
Historic Scotland, and has been by
St Serf's church in Dunning since that time.
The Dupplin Cross is a
high cross, that is a free-standing, stone cross. While relatively common in
Ireland,
Northumbria and in
Dál Riata, such crosses are not known earlier in the lands of the
Picts. Early records report that a second cross stood on a hill above Invermay, also overlooking Forteviot, but this is now lost, and the records do not provide any detail of its exact form.
The cross is carved from
Old Red Sandstone, the cross stands about 2.5 metres tall, 1 metre broad over the arms of the cross. It is carved with various scenes, religious, martial and traditional Pictish animal carvings. The cross contains a partially legible inscription, of which only the name ''CUSTANTIN FILIUS FIRCUS'' can be read. This name is taken as the
Latin form of the early 9th century Pictish king
Caustantín son of Fergus (fl. 793–820).
External links
★
CISP database entry (
Celtic Inscribed Stones Project)
★
Site visit details (
Historic Scoland)