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MHG63218 - Cup marked stone - Druim Mor, Swordale (15)

Summary

A cupmarked stone within the Scheduled Monument Area at Druim Mor, 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>

Over several days between the 18th of June and the 14th of August 1987 the rocks at Swordale were subject to scale drawing and were surveyed by a team of individuals associated with the Highland Regional Council. Both R B Gourlay and D Scott conducted surveys of the stones and each created a map showing the location of sites they had recorded. <4>

Another two photographs were potentially taken at this time as part of the survey work undertaken. <5> <6>

On the 24th of July 1987, several of the stones were photographed by P R Campbell and they were photographed again on the 14th of August by L A Robertson, both of the Highland Regional Council. <7> <8> <9> <10> <11> <12> <13> <14> <15> <16> <17> <18> <19> <20> <21> <22> <23> <24> <25> <26> <27> <28> <29> <30>

On the 18th of Feburary 1991 the area including the farmstead, field system, chambered cairn and cupmarks was Scheduled. <31>

A number of stones were re-photographed by D Scott in 1992. These were stones: 5, 14, 15, 19 and 22. <32>

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. <33>

Note: The GIS data for this record is based on D Scott's 2012 survey, but shapefiles are available for both of the 1987 surveys carried out by R Gourlay and D Scott for comparison.

This panel was recorded as part of the ScRAP (Scotland’s Rock Art project) by members of NoSAS in August 2018. The stone is located 30m south of a deer fence on the top of a broad ridge between Strath Sgitheach and Strath Glass. The ridge runs east-west and slopes towards the east overlooking the Cromarty Firth. It is within an area approximately 200m x 100m containing around 27 other decorated stones. An old trackway runs up the ridge. The overall site was previously surveyed by Dougie Scott and Bob Gourlay in 1986 & 2001 (see Canmore entries for Druim Mor).

The heart shaped slab, which has a long axis oriented east-west, is partially covered by turf. Some turf was lifted to examine the stone and subsequently replaced. There are 3 fissures running across the surface north-south, west-east and south-northeast, and 15 cup marks which vary in size from 40mm to 70mm across. There is short curving groove about 0.2m long, which may be natural. There are no obvious peck marks. <34>

NGR adjusted based on 2021 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (35)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 5779 6620 (9m by 8m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH56NE
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	KILTEARN

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (5)

External Links (4)