Documents

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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.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  SM10716_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013747)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises an extensive group of cupmark carvings of probable Neolithic or early Bronze Age date (c.2500-1500 BC), incised on a bedrock ridge.

The rock ridge bearing the cupmarks lies at around 190m OD, immediately to the E of the gully of the Allt Coire Charmaig and facing northward towards the valley of the River Lochay. The ridge measures about 50m in length and is orientated ENE-WSW. It bears three areas of exposed cupmarks. At least 41 cupmarks are visible on the most easterly exposure. These cupmarks range in size from 50mm in diameter and 15mm in depth to 110mm in diameter and 20mm in depth.

A further 18 cupmarks are visible in a central group, ranging in size from 50mm in diameter and 10mm in depth to 120mm in diameter and 30mm in depth. This group also incorporates three large circular 'plates' which may also have been artificially cut. Each measures about 210mm in diameter by about 25mm in depth. A possible cup-and-ring mark is also visible on the SW edge of this exposure; the ring measures about 170mm in diameter.

The most westerly group of carvings contains at least 48 cupmarks. This collection shows the greatest size range of the three groups with cups varying from 25mm in diameter and 5mm in depth up to 100mm in diameter and 40mm in depth. Six of the cupmarks form a straight line grouping aligned NW to SE.

The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible features and the area immediately around and between them. It is rectilinear on plan with maximum dimensions of 70m from ENE to WSW by 30m transversely, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric ritual practices. Extensive turf and moss cover over much of the ridge raises the possibility that further petroglyphs may survive on this site, as yet unrecorded.

References

Bibliography

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.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.