Perspectives on Pictish Body Adornment.
By Michael Lothian.
The ancient people of Scotland, those confederation of pre-Celtic tribes, they who have come to be known as the Picts, who have stoked the imagination of generations since their cultural collapse so long ago, and whilst their blood continues to flow through the veins of their descendants, their language and customs do not. Hence the passage of time that has distanced us from them and due to the limited and sparse sources of information we have on the Picts, many conclusions have been drawn or better put guessed and because of such, hypothesis after hypothesis has been spawned, romantic and nationalistic sentiment evolved with tales to match, some times being more mythological than factual, though in many cases there is reliable evidence also, more than enough on some topics to put pieces of the puzzle together in order to further understand Scotland’s ancestors. However, controversy and contention persists between academics and historians, both sides of an argument are at times able to be as compelling as each other, though as in Highlander the movie as it is in my thinking; “there can be only one” in the end, one way of thinking, one consensus in all things, though we are no where near agreeing on many things, such is humanities dilemma in the small and great things of life, because in terms of the Picts we simply do not have all the facts?
Questions regarding the life and activities of the Picts will perhaps never be fully or confidently known despite many people’s attempts to understand such and it certainly doesn’t stop people from discrediting various findings or writings of well-meaning people, the words and writings of some can indeed seem unforgiving and merciless towards those that err or write opposing arguments, though isn’t that the nature of understanding and deduction, refining information and evidence through the accumulative sum of knowledge, that through new insight all ideas are either laid to rest or built upon, there is no shame in such nor condescension due, for sometimes without the zeal to make assumption or mistake, a lesson or portion of knowledge is sometimes never learnt, though more disconcerting is that pride and insecurity makes a person unteachable, therefore unwilling to accept different perspectives.
Some times you get the feeling that some people just want to be the first to do or say something, to unveil some hidden evidence or link and claim ones historical place in unravelling the mysteries of the Picts. The race to understand Pictish symbols and the stone carvings they are found upon seem to bring out these human flaws and make for what was once called un-sportsman like behaviour? A most unprofessional way to hedge your interests and or secure your research is to be selective or silent with regard to certain ideas and information or becoming unwaveringly oppositional to those sources that threaten your ideas. If something contradicts or under minds your findings and work then either leave it out or discredit it seems to be the tact of some, ones motivation and lack of conscience or want for success can at times cause truth to become the first casualty in historical research, whether purposely or under self-deceit, though ultimately no anthropologist, historian or archaeologist can hold back the truth or remain unchallenged when the earth is continually giving up its secrets.
Fanciful depictions of Picts produced in the 1700’s.
Many people write passionately on most Pictish topics, though the issue of Picts and tattoos remains largely untouched, marginally entertained or denied public discussion, the odd internet forum and blog may contain some brief discourse on it, though rarely or next to never is the topic properly addressed or discussed in a book, why is this so? It makes for interesting reasoning and presents potentially challenging ramifications that could alter the findings of the status quo of Pictish research?
In some cases Pictish tattooing creates a hesitancy in researchers, leading them to treat certain texts with out the credibility needed to effectively be included in important research, though they are most willing to accept information from that same document that aids their research on different topics, thus, even weights of application are needed in such circumstances, a failure to use such methods may prevent an obstacle to the even and seemingly logical perspective they put forward, though this does not make their judgements and findings sound. As a card-carrying tattoo appreciator, it would seem that I am predisposed to believing that the Picts did indeed tattoo themselves and not just merely temporarily paint their bodies, though they could have done both depending on the occasion, the viability of this I will discuss later? Where as there is a solid number of medieval and historical buffs that question or entirely discredit the possibility of having the practice of tattooing within Pictish culture.
Various Pictish animals and designs found on Pictish stones
Here I will not attempt to challenge such people and their thinking, as their knowledge and authority surely out weighs mine, but I am not one to shy from heated discussion, I am not a historian but simply a lover of my country’s history, I am not overcome by its romanticism and nationalistic fervour, though I am proud none the less of its accomplishments and it historical figures, I embrace the truth as far as I know it and seek not to perpetuate false understanding or the creation of cultural myth and identity. Though, I will simply put forward my thoughts on Pictish tattooing as a means to allow all information, as much as humanly possible, to be considered in defining its inclusion into the fabric of understanding the Picts and the possibility that they did indeed tattoo themselves?
*TO BE CONTINUED.
Copyright. 2009. Michael Lothian.
