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MHG49776 - Cup marked stones - Dalreoich (3,4,6) (Original position)

Summary

Two rock boulders bearing cup marks have been removed to different locations and one panel not found.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

NMRS Report: (19/09/2006 11:25:12)
NH57NE 30 NH 58173 76359

Three outcrops bearing cup marks, 200m SW of NH57NE 10.
NH 58173 76359 DH1. Outcrop, 3.2 x 2.6 x 1.3m; at least 47 cup marks and ?semi-circular channel. Largest cup 60 x 30mm.
NH 58212 76355 DH2. Outcrop, 3.9 x 2.6 x 1.2m; at least 10 cup marks. Four cups are aligned NW-SE.
NH 58242 76382 DH3. Outcrop with at least five cup marks.
G Currie 2005 <1>

First reported by Dougie Scott in 2004. Photographs submitted to the HER in November 2010. <2><3>

The panels were recorded as part of the ScRAP (Scotland’s Rock Art project) by members of NoSAS in September 2018 in their new locations.

Panel 3; The panel has been moved from its original location and is currently situated on the edge of an improved pasture field about 15m east of the riverbank and 5m east of the nearest field fence. It sits on the lip of a small hollow containing numerous fragmented stones, presumably from field clearance, in the flat bottom of Strath Rusdale. The road, which runs roughly east-west through the valley, lies roughly 300m to the east of the panel. The panel is one of three cupmarked stones recorded under one Canmore ID (Canmore 282723; ScRAP 1449). These panels have been named Dalreioch 3, 4 and 6. A second fragmented cupmarked panel (Dalreioch 4, Canmore 282723), also moved from its original location to the field edge, is now located on the river bank approximately 100m west of this panel. The third panel noted under Canmore 282723 (Dalreioch 6) was not be found during the NOSAS survey.

The panel is a large roughly cuboid boulder (3x4m) rising to a maximum height of 1.7m above present ground level, although its relocation in the last 13 years may have altered its original form. Earlier records note that the carvings are on the upper surface of the boulder, and this is still the case. The upper surface is mainly flat and gently sloping to the southwest, with a large east-west diagonal fissure and some exfloiation. There are at least 3 cupmarks of varied size in the south corner of the carved surface. One of the cupmarks lies close to a recent fracture in the rock surface which may have resulted from relocation of the panel, and it is possible that there were originally additional carvings on this surface.

Panel 4; This cup marked rock is situated on a rough grassy bank 10m east of the Black Water River within a copse of trees and a jumble of other relocated boulders of varying sizes. There is a sharp bend in the river at this point, and a fence line separating the improved pasture from the rough bank 2m east and upslope from the boulder. The boulder has been relocated using a bucket on a digger as the scrape marks of the bucket prongs can be seen on the boulder. It appears to have been damaged during relocation and some parts of the panel are missing. The original location was within the improved pasture at NH 58173 76359. This boulder is approximately 300m southeast of Dalreoich 2 and 200m north of Dalreoich 3 (which also lies just above the river, having been relocated).

This large roughly rectangular boulder has at least 14 cups on a northwest facing panel. There are several different levels on the slope of the panel but the surface is fairly smooth. All cups are about the same size and depth. The panel measures 3.9 x 3.8m with its longer axis orientated northwest, although it is no longer in situ. It rises to a height of 1.3m above ground level. The west edge of the boulder has been broken off when it was moved to its current location on the riverbank. Its original location was at NH 58173 76359 and it was reported as having at least 47 cups <4>

(See MHG63159 and MHG63177 for current positions)

Sources/Archives (4)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 58173 76358 (8m by 8m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH57NE
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	ROSSKEEN

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Related Investigations/Events (1)

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