Balig Farm

NX08SE 9 0943 8416.

(NX 095 838) A cup-marked stone was located in the east wall of the paddock at Ballig Farm, 10 yds from the north wall. It is small and flat, with a clear cup at each end and a line drawn partly round one end, and was found on rebuilding the wall. It is now in Corseclays House, Ballantrae. Two other stones, also carved, but whose carvings are not recorded, were rebuilt into the wall and are not now visible.

R W B Morris 1967

This stone was found at NX 0943 8416 but is thought to have been removed from an old sheep fank at NX 0926 8398 and used to repair the wall (Mr S Stevenson, Balig). The marks on the stone, which is now at Corseclays House, would be better described as 'circular depressions' 1/6" deep - certainly not cup-marks.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 10 December 1970

The above stone was found against the base of a dry stone dyke at NX 0940 8401 in 1962 by Mr Stevenson. Of a smooth sandstone it measures 25cm by 13cm and has two shallow circular cups 3cm and 4cm diameter and about 3mm deep, and inscribed circuit lines around the top and bottom. The overall effect is of a finely executed design which is probably a variation on the typical cup and ring pattern.

Mr Stevenson recalls the two other cup-marked stones that were found nearby and rebuilt into the dyke, but he has been unable to re-locate them, and they were not found on field investigation. All the stone for the dyke is local.

Held at Balig Farm is another perforated and cup-marked sand-stone slab (?knocking stone) found by Mr Stevenson's father many years ago in the vicinity of the farm, but its exact provenance could not be recalled. Also held is a grit-stone boat-shaped battleaxe with waisted perforation found in about 1930 by a relation, Mr J Stevenson, now deceased, within the enclosure bank of a nearby farmstead at NX 0927 8400.

Visited by OS (JRL) 11 March 1977