“In this tomb lies Vetta, daughter of Victricus.” Does anyone know where this translation comes from? It comes directly from the inscription on the Cat Stane.
The Cat Stane near Kirkliston stands as a silent witness to centuries past. This inscribed stone marks a place of ancient burial. It is located on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The Cat Stane dates back to the fifth or sixth centuries. Imagine this area over one thousand years ago. The area around Edinburgh was controlled by the Votadini or the Gododdin.
The Cat Stane is more than just a stone. It’s a link to our ancestors. It was part of a funerary complex. This complex included a cairn and cist burials.
The stone’s Latin inscription is a dedication. It is to a deceased woman. Her remains were interred near the Cat Stane. The inscription reads: IN OC T MVLO IAC T VETTA F VICTR.
Edward Lhuyd first described the Cat Stane in 1699. He noted it stood on flat stones. These stones surrounded a low oval cairn.
Excavations around the Cat Stane have revealed much. The first excavation occurred in 1860. Further digs took place in 1864 and 1977. These showed the Cat Stane was surrounded by stone-lined graves, or cists.
The Royal Commission interprets the Cat Stane as a Bronze Age site. It was reused for burials later. These burials were in the fifth or sixth centuries.
The Cat Stane stands 1.3 meters tall. It is an irregular stone. Its surface is heavily weathered. The inscription is still visible, though fragmented. The Cat Stane now resides within Edinburgh Airport’s perimeter.
Some think the name has to do with felines. But the word cat also means footpath, track or drove road. The Cat Stane may have served as a marker stone.
Though access is restricted, the Cat Stane remains. It reminds us of the ancient people. They lived and died on this land. Next time you fly from Edinburgh, look out the window. You might just catch a glimpse of this ancient monument. It silently guards its secrets. It connects us to a distant past.