The Rhynie Chert is named after the village, as is the fossil plant genus Rhynia. The Rhynie Chert is a sediment deposited in the Devonian period, contained important fossils that shows land ecosystem of the Devonian.[1]
The name Rhynie may involve an early Pictishrīg meaning "a king" (c.f. Gaelicríg/rí; c.f. Welshrhi).[2]
History
The "Craw Stane", a Pictish symbol stone depicting a salmon and an unknown animal
Eight Pictish symbol stones have been found at Rhynie, including the "Rhynie Man", a 6-foot (1.8 m) tall boulder carved with a bearded man carrying an axe, possibly a representation of the Celtic god Esus, that was discovered in 1978. The "Rhynie Man" now stands inside Woodhill House (the headquarters of Aberdeenshire Council) in Aberdeen.[3]
In 2011 archaeological excavations at Rhynie, near the site of the "Rhynie Man", by archaeologists from Aberdeen University and Chester University uncovered a substantial fortified settlement dating to the early medieval period. Among the finds at the site were fragments of a late 5th- or 6th-century Roman amphora that must have been imported from the Mediterranean region. This is significant as it is the only known example of a Roman amphora from Eastern Britain dating to the post-Roman period, and indicates that the inhabitants of the settlement must have been of high status.
Archaeologists working at the excavation have speculated that the settlement may have been a royal site occupied by Pictish kings.[3] It has been suggested that Rhynie may have been a centre for royal assemblies between the sixth and eighth centuries.[4]
Transport
The village is served once a day on weekdays by the 231 service between Alford and Huntly.[5][6] It was previously served by the 416 to Inverurie, but this route was withdrawn in 2021.[7]
A bothyballad alludes to Rhynie thus: "at Rhynie I shure my first hairst."
The Station Hotel at Rhynie is mentioned in the sketch "The Will" by Scotland the What, the joke being that there is no railway station at Rhynie, "...but they were aye hopin' for one."
