Archaeology Notes

Event ID 702012

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/702012

NS57NE 22 5807 7624.

(Approximately NS 581 562) A group of six distinct cup marks, each 2 1/2 ins in diameter, occurring in pairs on a flat sandstone outcrop about 300 yds almost due S of "The Auld Wives' Lifts (NS57NE 25), was noted and planned by Coles in 1906. It was not found by the RCAHMS, who suggest that the marks may be caused by the weathering-out of small pebbles, a common occurrence on the rock outcrops of the vicinity.

F R Coles 1906; RCAHMS 1963, visited 1954

What appears to be the cup-marked rock described by Coles was located at NS 5807 7624, on the flat top of a ridge of rock outcrop. Two pairs of cup marks are distinct, the third pair less so.

(Coles cup marks are at NS 5814 7623, others are at NS 5808 7623).

Seven distinct 'cups' were noted forming a semicircular arc (? a stage in the quarrying of millstones, much quarrying of which has taken place on the ridge). Other, less distinct, hollows are numerous at and around the rock. While these may be genuine cup marks, they must be treated with caution, in view of their possible association with the local quarrying (see NS57NE 21).

Visited by OS (WDJ) 3 May 1966

Morris does not appear to mention the cup marks noted above. However, he notes at NS 581 762, on a large ground-level outcrop 130 yds NNW of a gate in the wall, a cup mark, 3/4 in deep, surrounded by a gapped ring 5 ins in diameter.

He also notes, 50 yds W of the above, on top of a low 'cliff' or rock ridge, 35ft from the E end of the ridge, over 8 cups up to 4 ins diameter, 1 1/2 ins deep, and 15ft from the W end of the ridge, over 9 similar cups, all very clear. At least two of these cups have been surrounded by a probably ungapped ring, 6 ins in diameter.

R W B Morris 1969; 1973