StoneLore Podcast

The Picts were an ancient people who lived in what is now Scotland between the 3rd and 9th centuries. With no written records of their own, the Picts remain one of history’s most mysterious cultures. Known to us only through Roman accounts, archaeology, and their ornately carved stones, what stories did they leave behind?
My guest, author and historian Graeme Johncock (@scotlands_stories) joins me to examine the Aberlemno Kirkyard Stone, one of the most unique Pictish stones that we have today. Graeme explains the meaning behind its symbolic designs and early Christian imagery to a dramatic scene that may depict the pivotal Battle of Dun Nechtain in 685 AD. Could this stone commemorate a decisive Pictish victory over the Anglo-Saxons? Or does it tell a different story entirely?
With insights into archaeology, myth, and history, this episode brings ancient Scotland vividly to life and reveals how much we still have to learn from these inspiring stones. So sit back and enjoy as we have at it, discussing all things THE ABERLEMNO KIRKYARD STONE.

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Scotland's Stories: Historic Tales for Incredible Places by Graeme Johncock
linktr.ee/ScotlandsStories

In Part Two of my conversation with Knut Einar Skår (@knuteinarskar), we uncover even more hidden lifting stones scattered across the Norwegian landscape. Knut opens up his private research map, revealing dozens of stones not yet published on his website. Drawing from Norway’s National Library archives, obscure local history books, and word-of-mouth discoveries, he shares stories of the following: legendary giant Sterke Nils, churchyard lifting traditions tied to community gatherings, and even a forgotten farm stone rediscovered in a family garden. 
This conversation highlights both the depth of Norway’s strength heritage and the urgent need to document it before it disappears. So sit back and enjoy as we have at it, discussing all things NORWEGIAN LIFTING STONES!

Norwegian Lifting Stones Website: loftestein.no/en

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In an age gone by, after a few pints, young men would challenge each other to lift the Lonton Egg on their way home from the pub. People would go through Lonton on their walk between Mickleton and Middleton because they could drink for longer. They would pass the old smithy and challenge each other to see who was the strongest by attempting to lift the stone as high as possible.
My guest, Calum Stott (@sherlock_stones_), shares the remarkable rediscovery of the Lonton Egg, explaining how very thin threads and a bit of perseverance brought a nearly forgotten lifting stone back to life. Along the way, we dive into rural history, magical strength stories, and how one rediscovered stone helped spark a wider revival of England’s lost lifting stone traditions. So sit back and enjoy as we have at it, discussing all things THE LONTON EGG.
Article: The Lonton Egg & Teesdale Feat Stone by Calum Stott

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Season two begins with a deep dive into Ireland’s ancient landscape and its powerful relationship with stone. I am joined by Deirdre O’Neill (@remnantsofourpast), author of Remnants of Our Past, a book that explores how the Irish landscape acts as a living record of ancestral belief, tradition, and everyday life.
In this episode, Deirdre shares her research into Ireland’s sacred sites, particularly curing stones often found at holy wells and ancient ritual spaces. We explore the folklore, history, and mystery surrounding stones believed to heal physical and spiritual ailments.
The conversation weaves through pagan traditions, early Christianity, folklore collected from local communities, and the ways ritual, prayer, and landscape merged organically over time. Deirdre also discusses her research process, drawing from old newspapers, folklore archives, local histories, and firsthand conversations with people living near these sacred sites.
Featured stories include: Cloch an Phoill, the Petrified Dairy, St. Patrick’s Chair, the Mad Chair of Dunany, and St. Ronan’s Altar. So sit back and enjoy as we have at it, discussing all things IRISH CURING STONES.

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In the book of Genesis, Jacob uses a stone as a pillow while traveling from Beersheba to Haran. He dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven with angels moving upon it, and God promises him protection, descendants, and the surrounding land. When Jacob wakes, he declares the place sacred, sets the stone upright as a pillar, anoints it with oil, and names the site Bethel, marking the stone as a sign of God’s covenant with him.
This is just one of the many origin stories surrounding the infamous Stone of Destiny. From ancient Celtic legends to biblical theories and royal coronation lore, we explore the competing narratives that have followed the stone through history. Join me and Dr. Mark Hall, leading expert at the Perth Museum in Scotland, as we trace its journey, unravel its symbolic power, and examine why this enigmatic artifact continues to inspire debate, wonder, and national pride today. So sit back and enjoy as we have at it, discussing all things THE STONE OF DESTINY.
Life in Pieces: Lessons in the Value of Fragments from the Secret Lives of the Stone of Scone/Destiny by Sally Foster
Visit the Stone of Destiny

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