Broughmore Wood 4

Date Fieldwork Started: 15/08/2020

Compiled by: Callander

Location Notes: The ScRAP/Canmore records for Broughmore Wood relate to the carvings on rock surfaces uncovered up to 1 December 2020. These were previously recorded as cup marked and cup and ring marked rocks, and grouped under Canmore 270714 (ScRAP 2516). This is also the case for the associated submission to Discovery & Excavation in Scotland (DES) 2020. Following this initial work, which was carried out in the course of recording on behalf of ScRAP, a comprehensive excavation of the site has been embarked upon, organised by Stirling Council. The excavation will not conclude until some time after ScRAP's five year term has ended. It is likely therefore that many further carvings will be uncovered by the excavation and that existing panels will extend in size and possible further ones found. This ScRAP record is therefore essentially interim and reference should be made to the final excavation report once it materialises.

Broughmore Wood comprises a low sandstone ridge extending WSW from the W boundary wall of Balgair Woods, and some 4km NE of Balfron, Stirling. The boundary wall here runs NNW-SSE with a high deer fence running parallel to it on the W side at a constant distance of some 2.5m. The ridge rises about 15m above the immediate surrounding moorland and has extensive and open panoramic views from the Fintry Hills and Campsie Fells to the S, the hills delineating route of the Highland Boundary Fault to the N, and many miles to the W to the Clyde estuary. However, the former moorland surrounding the ridge has recently been deep ploughed and planted with coniferous trees up to the base of the ridge. The dimensions of the ridge between the planted area is some 150m in length from WSW from the forest wall, 50m in width at the wall, tapering to 25m towards its far end. Over the wall, the ridge can be traced ENE for about 70m within a clearing between the trees about 15m wide. Geologically, the ridge is composed of the Kinnesswood Formation of sandstone and nodular limestone (cornstone), the sandstone here being quite fine-grained. There are some natural outcrops along the ridge but mostly the rock lies a short distance under the tough turf of heather and rough grass, and virtually all the carvings are buried. There has been quarrying throughout the central section of the ridge W of the wall and on the forest side immediately eastwards for about 20m and this quarrying has removed a large amount of the original outcrop and, no doubt, further carvings.

Panel Notes: This panel is located within the mature Balgair Forest to the E of the wall. It is the highest point of the ridge and is still outcropping, but as it is immediately adjacent to the forest edge it is usually covered by pine needles and detritus. The surface is very rough and pitted through continued exposure to weathering. There is a quern extraction void of 40cm diameter and two small quern roughouts slightly lower down the rock to the NW of 18 and 16cm diameter.