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Children’s Book Depicts Black Picts, Prompting Dispute Over Evidence and Public Funding

Scrutiny centers on taxpayer support because critics say the portrayal conflicts with a 2023 genetic study.

Overview

  • The illustrated title, Carved in Stone: A Storyteller’s Guide to the Picts, presents early Scotland as multicultural and depicts some Picts as Black, including villagers and clergy.
  • Project partner Dig It says the work translates recent archaeology for a broad audience and portrays Pictish society as complex and internationally connected.
  • Coverage highlights a 2023 genetic study finding continuity between Picts and long-established Iron Age populations in Britain, which critics cite against the book’s visuals.
  • The project received partial funding from the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and the team is considering offering copies to schools and libraries.
  • Reports conflict on the intended age range, with one article saying 14 and up and another describing material for children as young as four, reflecting uncertainty over audience.