The Maiden Stone

I had occasion to drive from Oyne to Kemnay today on a dreich October afternoon and took the short route through Chapel of Garioch. This road goes passed this ancient carved Pictish stone, called the Maiden Stone. It's in the care of Historic Scotland. I haven't been there for many years and I was taken aback by the deterioration in the carvings since I last saw it close up. The ones on this side, the back are not too bad, but those on the other side are almost totally eroded away. Such a shame that it has not been conserved like Sueno's stone at Forres! My extra photo is of the display board at the site which gives some more details of its history.