Scheduled Monument
Ballochmyle Viaduct,rock carvings 280m NE ofSM4484
Status: Designated
Documents
Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).
The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.
Summary
- Date Added
- 28/03/1988
- Supplementary Information Updated
- 20/12/2022
- Type
- Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cupmarks or cup-and-ring marks and similar rock art
- Local Authority
- East Ayrshire
- Parish
- Mauchline
- NGR
- NS 51112 25587
- Coordinates
- 251112, 625587
Description
The monument comprises two adjacent rock outcrops each bearing a large number of carvings. Most are cup-and-ring but there are also linked cup-and-ring marks, ones with radial grooves or multiple rings, and S, inverted U, and V shapes. The date 1751 has been carved on one stone. The area to be scheduled is a rectangle 75m NE/SW by 20m transversely including the adjacent rock outcrops described above and strips about 5m broad above and below the outcrop which will contain traces of activities associated with the making and use of the carvings.
Statement of National Importance
The monument is of national importance as an outstanding example of its class. It is an exceptionally fine site and rates among the best in Southern Scotland. Of particular importance is the range of symbols and the relative absence of antiquarian interference. The fact that the marks occur on rock faces which stand with their feet buried in leaf mould suggest that there may be more marks hidden, especially as the marks now visible appear to run into the ground in a few cases.
References
Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation
About Scheduled Monuments
Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.
We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.
Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.
We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)
Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the
scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).
The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.
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