DUPPLIN CROSS

This Cross stood in a field on the north side of the river Earn overlooking the ancient Pictish capital of Forteviot. It is a free standing cross of Old Red Sandstone 8'7" high and 3'1" wide across the arms, and is heavily ornamented on all four sides with spiral work, square and diagonal key patterns and interlaced work, surrounding figures of men, animals and birds.

The cross is estimated to date from the 9th century. A cast was made in 1990 for an exhibition in Edinburgh and the blank panel on the west face revealed seven lines of latin which connect the cross with Constantine rather than Kenneth MacAlpine as had been previously thought. It is now thought that the cross may have been erected by Kenneth or one of his sons as an apt dedication to Constantine, a Pictish King, who like Kenneth himself had ruled both nations, the Picts and the Scots.

After several years of arguments for and against removal to Edinburgh museum or a local site, the Scottish Secretary ruled in 1998 that the cross be taken into the care of Historic Scotland for restoration work, then placed in the New Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh for three years before being returned to Strathearn and housed in St. Serf's Church in Dunning which is in the care of Historic Scotland.

The Scottish Secretary's order was carried out and the Dupplin Cross was installed in pride of place in St. Serf's Church on 26th March 2002.