Easter Denoon

NO34SW 29 3493 4390

This sandstone slab was found in August 1977, when part of the former stackyard at Easter Denoon steading (NO34SW 30) was levelled prior to the erection of grain stores. It measures 0.54m in length by 0.36m in breadth and up to 0.15m in thickness, and is presently retained at Easter Denoon farmhouse. There are eleven cupmarks, six of which are circular and measure up to 40mm in diameter by 18mm in depth, and five of which are oval and measure up to 95mm in length. One of the circular cups is surrounded by three eccentric rings and partially surrounded by three others. A radial channel runs from this cup past two oval cups on the left edge of the stone. A second, broader channel, set roughly parallel to the first, extends from the central cup through all five rings to then run into an oval cup. Another of the circular cups is surrounded by three eccentric rings cut by a radial groove, and a third is accompanied by two fragmentary rings and a short length of radial groove.

Visited by RCAHMS (JRS), March 1998.

J R Sherriff 1999.

Date Fieldwork Started: 06/08/2020

Compiled by: ELF

Location Notes: This sandstone slab was found in August 1997 (not 1977 as previously noted) at NO 34930 43900 by the father of the current owner during construction of a grainstore at the farm steading of Easter Denoon. The stone is retained within Easter Denoon Farmhouse by Mr Robert Brewster. The find location is within the Denoon Glen where other cup and ring marked stones have been discovered, and is close by the Denoon Hill fort on an ancient pathway through the Sidlaw Hills.

Panel Notes: This is a sandstone boulder measuring 0.5 x 0.5m and 0.2m high. It has possibly been quarried from a larger stone as some of the motifs appear to be truncated. There are 8 cups are circular and measure up to 40mm in diameter and 18mm in depth, and an oval or conjoined cup. There is another prominent oval cupmark, or courgette motif, 95mm in length and possibly truncated, with a partial ring around it. This is connected by a wide radial groove to a cup with 3 rings and 2 radials which run from the cup. In addition there is 1 cup with 2 or possibly 3 rings rings cut by a radial groove, and 1 cup with 2 partial rings. Five small cupmarks appear to form a circular motif or rosette. There are prominent peck marks in the cups, grooves and rings.