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Miscellaneous The Picts and Their Symbols by W.A. Cummins $34.95 / Sutton / 1999 The main problem in reading Pictish inscriptions is that we cannot read them. Their language, like the Picts themselves, vanished long ago, and the marks they left on standing stones throughout Scotland seem impossible to decipher. But in this book, W.A. Cummins, a former university instructor in geology, uses old-fashioned detective work in an attempt to solve the mystery. He surveys previous efforts and explains why the problem is so hard to crack. Then he gives a detailed explanation of his theory that the stones were actually monuments to prominent members of the Pictish community. In the process, he sheds light on early British history and pre-history, as well as the use and interpretation of symbols. His work is scholarly and meticulous, including lengthy descriptions of individual stones and statistical breakdowns of the symbols they contain. This approach may be a little tedious at times, but the result is a book packed with useful information. In addition, the volume is well illustrated with black-and-white photos, maps, and drawings that round out the material. Thus, after a first reading, The Picts and Their Symbols can serve as a versatile reference for anyone interested in the Picts, British history, ancient monuments, or linguistics. —C. Bruce Hunter

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