# The system was in use by the third to fourth century AD.

> Most likely: The system was in use by the third to fourth century AD.

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/pictish-symbols/answers/ANS0CQHAN683C69/the-system-was-in-use-by-the-third-to-fourth-century-ad  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page)  

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[Questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/questions)[Pictish symbol stones](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/pictish-symbols)[When did the symbol system begin?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/pictish-symbols/questions/QST0CQHAGHT0ND4/when-did-the-symbol-system-begin)Answer

Answer · Pictish symbol stones

# The system was in use by the third to fourth century AD.

The system was in use by the third to fourth century AD.

**Most likely** Answers **1** questionPublished0

## Where it stands

**Most likely** Its tests supported it: two pieces of evidence for, none against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

## What it predicts

- Further symbol-bearing contexts date to the Roman Iron Age.

## What would rule it out

- Re-dating shows the Dunnicaer carvings are not associated with the third- to fourth-century occupation.

## Evidence 2 for · none against

[Bone objects and settlement layers in the Northern Isles show the symbols in use in the fifth century.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/pictish-symbols/evidence/EVD0CQHANNW7382/bone-objects-and-settlement-layers-in-the-northern-isles)

Supported

FOR

[Dunnicaer's carvings come from a fort at its height in the third to fourth centuries AD.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/pictish-symbols/evidence/EVD0CQHANE27FRD/dunnicaers-carvings-come-from-a-fort-at-its-height-in-the)

Supported

FOR

## The questions it answers

[When did the symbol system begin?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/pictish-symbols/questions/QST0CQHAGHT0ND4/when-did-the-symbol-system-begin)

AnsweredNo answer ahead

## Cite it

```
Mysteries Department. (2026). The system was in use by the third to fourth century AD. [Answer ANS0CQHAN683C69]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0CQHAN683C69
```

Key

**ANS** 0CQHAN683C69

Kind

Answer · hypothesis

Origin

Published

Version

1

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