At the coronation of King Charles III. The Scottish “Stone of Scone” will play an important role – it was already part of the coronation ritual of the early medieval Picts. Now researchers have discovered previously unseen machining marks and markings on this block of sandstone – including Roman numerals, traces of abrasion from copper and lime, and traces of various tools. This provides new information about the long history of this Coronation Stone, once thought to be magical.
The origins of the Stone of Scone date back to the ninth century. Back then, this rectangular block of sandstone, weighing around 150 kilograms, was first used in the coronation rituals of the Picts in Scotland. The coronation stone symbolized power, the connection to the people and magical powers were attributed to it. Since that time, the Stone of Scone has served as a seat for Scottish and later British kings at their coronations. From the 13th century the block of stone was kept as part of the coronation throne in Westminster Abbey in London. Also at the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953, the Stone of Scone lay under her coronation chair.
3D scan reveals undetected surface markings
After being part of the inventory of the Coronation Church in London for several centuries, the Coronation Stone, also known as the “Destiny Stone”, was returned to Scotland in 1996. It has been kept there with the Scottish Crown Jewels in Edinburgh Castle ever since. For the coronation of King Charles III. however, on May 6, 2023, the Stone of Scone will be returned to London and placed on the Coronation Throne. In the run-up to this transport, scientists from the Historic Environment Scotland (HES) foundation thoroughly examined the coronation stone again and created a digital 3D model using high-resolution scans.
These high-resolution images revealed some previously unrecognized markings and tooling marks on the Coronation Stone’s surface. “It is really exciting to receive new information about an object as unique and important to Scottish history as the Destiny Stone,” says HES Research Director Ewan Hyslop. Among the newly discovered markings are some scratch marks resembling Roman numerals. “The discovery of these previously undocumented tracks is significant, although we cannot say at this time what purpose they served or what they signify,” Hyslop said. “But they offer exciting starting points for further research.”
Traces of tools, copper and plaster
Among the newly discovered features on the surface of the Coronation Stone are numerous signs of machining and wear. “The high level of detail of the digital imaging has enabled us to examine these tool marks in more detail,” reports Hyslop. “This has confirmed that the Scone stone was once carved by more than one stonemason and with a range of different tools.” Geochemical and mineralogical analysis also confirm that the stone block came from a sandstone formation near Scone, Scotland – the site , where the Picts crowned their kings.
X-ray fluorescence analysis of the stone’s surface shows that a dark discoloration at the top of the stone block contains traces of a copper alloy. This could indicate that a bronze or brass object was once placed on the stone for a long time. The investigations also revealed microscopic traces of gypsum filling the pores of the sandstone at various points. Scientists suspect that these plaster remains were left behind when plaster casts of the Coronation Stone were made sometime in the past.
“The analyzes carried out using state-of-the-art technologies have given us some exciting clues about the history of the stone,” says Hyslop. “We don’t have all the answers yet, but what we have discovered already bears witness to the long history of the stone and its various uses. At the same time it provides important information about its provenance and authenticity.” The Stone of Scone is now being prepared for transport to London and will be used at the coronation of Charles III. between the legs of the coronation chair.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland