A lone piper marked the anniversary of a north-east kirk created from the carnage of battle.
St John’s Church near Gamrie was founded 1,010 years ago in recognition of a Scottish victory over invading Danes.
For centuries, the skulls of three Danish chiefs slain in the Battle of Bloody Pits were displayed in the kirk.
Banff piper Angus McAllister maintained a vigil at the landmark overlooking Gamrie Bay and played Amazing Grace and Scotland the Brave.
Mr McAllister, 74, said: “When I was a pupil at Bracoden School in the 1950s, I remember being taken to the site and told the story of the battle there by retired Gardenstown fisherman George Nicol.
“I thought it deserved to be mentioned, and that our children in the local schools deserve to know about what happened on their doorsteps.”
Mr McAllister, previously a military piper and former member of the City of Glasgow and Strathclyde Police pipe bands, marked the anniversary on Hogmanay.
He added: “I tried to be traditional but there are no songs that old so I settled on Scotland the Brave.
“I marked the 1,000th anniversary 10 years ago, and I intend to play every 10 years until I’m 100.”
The conflict in the area between the Scots and invading Danes was known as the Battle of the Bloody Pits, or Pots.
Fighting is said to have taken place at Longmanhill, at the site of the present Bloodymire Farm and at Mohr Head.
Invading Danes were eventually overwhelmed and slaughtered and the blood-soaked ground gave rise to the battle’s name.