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MHG63114 - Cup Marked Stone - Strath Sgitheach Allt Na Criche (2)

Summary

A cup marked stone (B) at Strath Sgitheach Allt Na Criche.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

NH56SW 13 522 630.
Centred around NH 522630 are 8 cup marked rocks ('A' - 'H').
'A' is a boulder measuring 3.1m x 1.9m x 0.6 m high with at least fifteen shallow cup marks on its upper surface. NH 5220 6292
'B' a large block 3.6m x 1.8m x 1m maximum height. It is largely earth-covered. It has 23 cup marks on its two outer edges. NH 5213 6298
'C' a boulder 1.8m x 1.2m x 0.6m high with six cup marks. NH 5212 6297
'D' boulder 2.4m x 1m x 0.6m high with 7 small shallow cup marks. NH 5126 6296
'E' small boulder 1.1m x 0.7m x 0.3m high with 2 probable cup marks. NH 5201 6298
'F' a boulder lying close by has 7 shallow cup marks upon it. NH 5201 6301
'G', a boulder, 2.8m x 1.5m x 0.6m, lying on bank of a stream, has probably slipped from its original position due to erosion. It has 6 extremely shallow cup marks on its upper surface. NH 6196 6324
'H' is a slab 2.2m x 1.3m lying flush with ground; it has 3 probable cup marks on its surface. NH 5247 6295
Surveyed at 1:10 000. Visited by OS (J B) 16 November 1976

8 outcrops of rock with shallow cup-marks.
RCAHMS 1979, visited September 1978

This panel was recorded as part of the ScRAP (Scotland’s Rock Art project) by members of NoSAS in August 2018. This is panel B and is the first of the set to be recorded. The panel is located on the lower south facing open slopes of Meall a'Ghuail, overlooking the river Sgitheach. It is one of a group of 8 panels (7 located at the time of writing) close to the Allt an Criche, in rough gazing interspersed with pine trees and patches of heath. A track crosses the river Sgitheach (ford and stepping stones) and heads northwestand passes 60m west of the panel. There is a large broken down pine tree 2m east of the panel, and its roots are visible in places around the panel. Rigg is visible in the ground immediately south of the panel. The area generally has a number of hut circles, field systems and burnt mounds, including those identified in Canmore 12921 about 0.6km to the southwest. Panel 3 (C in Canmore) is 5m to the west and is part of the same rock outcrop.

The panel is an L-shaped outcrop, up to 1.1m high, and with a south face 3.7m long and an east face 1.7m long. There are deep cracks separating a section of the panel at the 'corner'. There are 29 cups, along the two edges of the outcrop. The carved surface slopes at about 20 degrees to the north, and disappears under turf. Some turf was lifted and no cups more than 0.3m from the exposed edges were found. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 2018 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 5213 6297 (9m by 8m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH56SW
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	DINGWALL

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External Links (3)