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North Blochairn
Cup And Ring Marked Rock (Neolithic) - (Bronze Age)
Site Name North Blochairn
Classification Cup And Ring Marked Rock (Neolithic) - (Bronze Age)
Alternative Name(s) Auld Wives' Lifts; The Muirhouse
Canmore ID 44420
Site Number NS57NE 22
NGR NS 58079 76226
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/44420
- Council East Dunbartonshire
- Parish Baldernock (Bearsden And Milngavie)
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Bearsden And Milngavie
- Former County Stirlingshire
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
Field Visit (November 1981)
North Blochairn NS 580 762 NS57NE 22
On the flat top of a rock outcrop 150m N of North Blockairn farmhouse, there are two groups of possible cup-marks. Another cup-and-ring mark recorded a little to the N, and a number of carvings NW of the Auld Wives' Lifts were not located at the date of visit.
RCAHMS 1982, visited November 1981
(Coles 1906,3 25; Lacaille 1925, 143; Morris 1968, 73, nos. 183-4)
Note (12 October 2017)
Date Fieldwork Started: 12/10/2017
Compiled by: ACFA North Glasgow
Location Notes: The panel is located at the top of a series of rocky platforms which are themselves at the top of a roughly 3 - 4m high crag within an otherwise flat area of improved pasture. It lies NW of a modern farm building group (currently known as The Muirhouse), and due W of modern farm sheds. There are extensive views to the S, and the general slope of the landscape is to the SW. To the NE of the panel are more crags, known locally as the Auld Wives' Lifts. To the S is the public road running between the A81 and Torrance. 3 m N of the panel, on a separate rock exposure, is a part-formed millstone, identified by a pecked circle.
Panel Notes: This panel measures 4 x 3.3 m and is sub-rectangular in shape. It is at ground level, sloping gently to the S, surrounded by mixed vegetation and partially covered in lichen. The surface is pitted, with one clear fissure running N to S, and several small stones attached to its surface. At the southernmost edge of the rock is a cliff with a roughly 5 m drop. In addition to the 17 "definite" marks previously noted we identified 2 possible small cups and 2 possible large cups which may be natural. There is no clear evidence of rings around any of the cups, although two of the cups are shown in the sketch as having a single ring which may be indentations in the rock surface. There was is obvious pattern in the distribution of the marks, and no visible tool-marks.
