‘The Hostage stone’ depicts a scene, either witnessed or imagined, that shows “wild-haired raiders” dressed in long coats of mail dragging a hunched figure by a rope, towards a ship. This prisoner may be a monk (© National Museums Scotland)

‘The Hostage stone’ depicts a scene, either witnessed or imagined, that shows “wild-haired raiders” dressed in long coats of mail dragging a hunched figure by a rope, towards a ship. This prisoner may be a monk (© National Museums Scotland)