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MHG63140 - Cup marked stone - Druim Mor Garden (2) (Current location)

Summary

A cupmarked stone now located in Druim Mor farmhouse garden near Evanton.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

"In Swordale stack-yard there is a flat stone, four feet long by three broad, one side of which is covered with cup marks and other artificial hollows. It lay in a heap, with the sculptured side underneath; but Mr Joass, Dingwall, who was aware of its existence, had it turned over and its markings exposed. Mr Joass said that attention was first drawn to markings of this kind by the late Earl of Eglinton about fifty years ago… in May 1864… In September following he [Mr Joass] walked across from Dingwall to Swordale by way of Mountgerald, and on a little patch of uncultivated land, he stumbled upon an interesting specimen of a cup and ring-marked stone. He then made a search, and before he left the ground he had discovered ten specimens. Since then he had found other four or five, all within a radius of ten acres in extent, and most of them lying close together. They bear on their surface a multiplicity of markings, varying from the smallest cup to the most complicated figures." <1>

The site was written about by N MacRae in 1923. <2>

Nearby at NH 5786 6614 is a small rock outcrop bearing on its horizontal upper surface about six hollows, two of which at least appear to be cup marks, and others possibly due to weathering, if not weathered cups. Cairn and cup-marked rock surveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (A A) 1 October 1973.

No change. Visited by OS (JB) 8 November 1976.

The site was photographed from the air by R B Gourlay in 1983. <3>

On the 18th of Feburary 1991 the area including the farmstead, field system, chambered cairn and cupmarks was Scheduled. <4>

The whole site was re-surveyed by D Scott in 2012. At this time a total of 28 stones were identified and recorded. The stones in all descriptions have followed this numbering system. For more information, please see the attached report. <5>

This panel was recorded as part of the ScRAP (Scotland’s Rock Art project) by members of NoSAS in April 2019. The panel lies to the south of Drumore farm buildings, to the east of the garden gate and just within (about 3m) the garden. The large stone is free standing and sits on the concrete drive beside the flower bed (gunnera and ivy) south of the stone wall enclosing the garden. It was moved to its present position from approximately NH 58293 66152 by the farmer a number of years ago. There is another large panel inside the garden and more examples around the farm. The present location is flat, but overall the surrounding ground is on a south facing slope. The panel has been recorded previously and a report lodged with Highland Council under the HER number MHG 14145.

The panel is a large, quadrilateral schist boulder measuring 1.0x0.7m and 0.3m high. There are 10 cups arranged across the top of the boulder in roughly parallels 3 rows aligned NNW-SSE. The NE-most cup has a slight partial ring, and the 3D model shows that both the NE-most cups appear to have rings. <6>

NGR adjusted based on 2009 vertical aerial photographs from position marked on the location sketch. <2>

Note; see MHG 63139 for original position (TB)

Sources/Archives (7)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 5840 6611 (10m by 10m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH56NE
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	KILTEARN

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (4)

External Links (3)