Hostage stone, from the Early Medieval island monastery, Inchmarnock, Bute, Scotland, c.8th-9th century AD (slate)

Many slates with evidence of learning to read and write were uncovered during recent excavations at the Early Medieval island monastery at Inchmarnock, Bute. Instead of learning their rote, one student has left us an inscribed doodle on their slate. ‘The Hostage stone’ depicts a scene, either witnessed or imagined, that shows how portable reliquaries were carried and entrusted to guardians. Significant details certainly suggest that the student was familiar with these important objects. Wild-haired raiders dressed in long coats of mail are dragging a hunched figure by a rope, towards a ship. This prisoner may be a monk – they are carrying a church-shaped reliquary, held by a strap and attached to their belt by a chain for extra security.