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The Aberlemno Stone is believed to depict the great victory of the Picts over the Northumbrians at the Battle of Dunnichen (685 AD). The sculpture on the reverse of the stone is subtly coded. The Picts are bare-headed, with long flowing hair, whereas the Northumbrians wear helmets. The Pictish horses are light and sprightly, with long tails; the Northumbrian horses are more heavily built, with trimmed (rather than docked) tails.

In the top tier, a Pictish cavalryman pursues a Northumbrian who is fleeing the battlefield on a Pictish horse. In the middle tier, pictish infantrymen confronts a charging Northumbrian cavalryman with a spear leveled. The Picts are drawn up in three ranks: in the lead stands a swordsman carrying a shield with a spiked boss; behind him a comrade wields a long thrusting-spear; and behind him a third infantryman holds a throwing-spear. the Northumbrian horseman holds the reins with one hand, with his shield strapped to his arm, and so has only one arm free to wield his weapons.

In the bottom tier, a Pictish cavalryman confronts a Northumbrian cavalryman. Here the Pictish superiority in horsemanship is emphasized. The Pict controls his horse with his knees, leaving both hands free. The Northumbrian, again, has only his right arm free. In the bottom right-hand corner, an outsize Northumbrian lies dead. The enlargement suggest a special importance - perhaps he is the King of Northumbria (Ecgfrith) himself. A raven tears at the flesh of his unprotected throat.