Tarbat Discovery Centre

Ionad-Taisgealaidh Thairbeirt

Pictish collection

Cruinneachadh Cruithneach

A nationally and internationally important and fascinating collection of finds relating to the important Pictish monastery which lies beneath and around the Discovery Centre. The monastic site dates from the late 6th century till around 820AD and the historic former church in which the Centre is located is evidence of this site’s long religious history.

The Discovery Centre displays include intricate Pictish stone carvings with detailed geometric patterns and images including cattle licking their new-born calf, a rooting wild boar, and a snarling dragon with a serpent head on its tail. Replicas and photographs of pieces of Pictish sculpture from Tarbat which are now in the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh are also on display along with tools used by the monks to create sacred gold and silverware, and the only evidence in Europe of a workshop producing vellum (calf skin which was used in medieval times as the writing surface for illuminated manuscripts).

In addition to its Pictish collection, the Centre boasts a rare 14th century crypt which housed the relics of a saint, and the extraordinary ‘six-headed burial’ of a 14th century clan chief killed in battle and buried with extra skulls around his head.

Tarbat Discovery Centre also cares for artefacts and archives connected with its most recent religious role as the local parish church, ‘Tarbat Old Kirk’, including local family history information.

The Tarbat Discovery Centre is just one of the amazing Pictish sites in this area. See Easter Ross (Tarbat) Peninsula itinerary for further details.

If you are travelling between the Black Isle and the Easter Ross (Tarbat) Peninsula, why not use the Cromarty Ferry (seasonal service)?

Further information

Thanks to the extensive archaeological excavations which took place here between 1994 and 2007, Tarbat Discovery Centre offers a rare insight into the world of the important Pictish religious centre which flourished here for around 300 years from the late 6th century onwards.

The Discovery Centre has unrivalled Pictish works of art created in stone by the Picts, including cross slabs carved skillfully with elaborate and intricately designed geometric patterns, interwoven with magnificent Pictish animals and figures.

Finds on display also include tools used by the Pictish monks to create sumptuous religious masterpieces including chalices and reliquaries in gold, silver, enamel and glass, and the only evidence in Europe – in the form of knives, scrapers and pumice – of a vellum workshop. The vellum (parchment made from calf skin) produced at Tarbat was possibly used to create illuminated manuscripts such as the great Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospels.