Rock Art Database

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Section A. CORE INFORMATION

A1. Identifiers

Classifications And Periods

County

KIRKUDBRIGHTSHIRE

A2. Grid Reference(original find site)

A3. Current Location & Provenance

Section B. CONTEXT

B1. Landscape Context

B2. Current land use & vegetation

• Improved Pasture

B3. Forestry

• No selection

B4. Archaeological Features within 200m / or visible from the panel

• Other rock art

B5. Location Notes

The panel is located in an undulating field of improved pasture on the NW side of a low ridge of outcropping rock running SW-NE. There are further areas of carvings on the same outcrop to the NE and SW of High Banks 4 which are recorded here as High Banks 1-6, and there may well be more carvings beneath the turf. Overall, the carvings occur over a 30m length of the outcrop. The outcrop has been quarried extensively on its NW side, and an interpretation panel has been placed in the quarried area. The field is uphill and SE of High Banks Farm where the is carparking and a sign to the rock art. There is a small forestry plantation about 50m to the SW and a marshy area 150m to the SSE. There are extensive views to the coast and hills to the W, to Cairnsmore of Corsharn to the NW and Bengairn to the N. There are also other outcrops in the same field and adjacent fields - some with known carvings and others that may well have carvings on them. This panel is grouped with High Banks 1-6 under Canmore 64442 but is separated from these panels by several metres of turf and is situated about 6m ESE of High Banks 3, on the NW shoulder of the low knoll. It forms part of the Scheduled Monument number 1028. High Banks 4 was originally recorded as part of High Banks 1a by Morris and High Banks A2-4 by van Hoek.

Section C. PANEL

C1. Panel Type

C2. Panel Dimensions, Slope & Orientation

C3. Rock Surface

C4. Surface Features

• Fissures/cracks
• Natural Hollows
• Weathering Channels
• Smooth Surface

C5. Panel Notes

This is an area of greywacke outcrop with several exposed rock surfaces separated by less than 1m wide deep turf-filled fissures and areas of turf, and has therefore been recorded as a single panel. Overall, the panel with measures about 7.5 x 1.7m and rises to a maximum height of 0.4m above ground level, but is flush with the ground several sides. The surface is highly textured with longitudinal and diagonal fissures, some forming diamond or V shapes, as well as natural hollows of various shapes and sizes, and weathering channels. Many of the motifs intersect with natural features and with the undulating shape of the rock surface. Three of the exposed surfaces of the panel are carved and have been recorded here as High Banks 4A-C, corresponding to van Hoek's High Banks A2-4. High Banks 4A: A trapezoidal shaped rock surface measuring 1.6 x 0.9m and rising to 0.4m high at the step in the slope, but otherwise flush with the ground. It slopes at about 20 degrees to the WNW roughly in line with the slope of the land. Its SW side steps down to High Banks 4B. The surface is mainly smooth with an array of thin and broader natural fissures and hollows. There are at least 48 cups of varying dimensions, from 2.0 to 4.0cm diameter and 0.5 to 1cm depth. The S-most cup has a partial ring broken by the the panel edge. There is also a vague, less symmetrical ovoid ring with no central cup. The ring edge is partly formed by a groove, which is an extension of a fine natural fissure running S along the surface. On the SW part of the surface, another fissure has been artificially broadened and is connected to three other straight grooves (each 0.15cm wide) that form a triangle within a larger triangle pattern. There are also a number of hollows that are possibly human made or enhanced natural features. This surface was originally recorded as High Banks A4 by van Hoek. High Banks 4B: A roughly rectangular area of exposed outcrop measuring 2.36 x 1.59, and rising to 0.33m maximum above ground level. It has an undulating surface sloping between 12 and 30 degrees to the NW, with part of it forming a rounded hog-back or bolster shape. At the base of this hog-back, the rock has partly sheared away and truncated several cupmarks. The surface is highly decorated with carvings covering most of the exposed rock. Some carvings are very worn and only evident in the 3D model, others appear to be superimposed or erased by subsequent carvings. The hog-back area is the most visually striking part of the rock: it features around 200 well-defined cups of very similar size, evenly spaced across the surface to form a honeycomb affect. The cups are arranged around a large, centrally placed cup with 4 rings, draped over the rounded surface of the rock. The outer two rings are set some distance from the inner two rings, and the area between these two sets of rings is textured by pecking, which has almost entirely erased two additional earlier concentric rings. A wide, smooth glaciated channel runs N-S at the base of the hog-back. To the E of this, the rock surface is smooth, gently sloping and undulating, with numerous fissures and hollows. Some of the fissures divide the surface into triangular shapes which contain arrangements of motifs. Overall there are at least 50 cups of varying sizes, 2 cups with radials, 6 cups with partial rings, one of which has pecking inside the ring, 1 cup with 1 ring and a radial, 3 cups with 1 ring, two of which have larger rings with pecking inside them which possibly erases earlier concentric rings. There is also 1 cup with 2 rings, the outer ring being partial and extended with pecking between the two rings, 1 cup with 3 rings where the outer two rings are some distance from the inner ring and have pecking between them, 1 cup with 2 partial rings that end at the rock edge and a radial that extends from the cup and forms a ring around another cup, and finally 1 cup with 4 rings, the outer two of which are penannular, and a radial that connects with the outer ring of a cup and single ring motif. Recorded as High Banks A3 by van Hoek. High Banks 4C: An oblong area of exposed outcrop measuring 3.5 x 1.7m and rising to a maximum of 0.4m, but flush with the ground along most edges. The surface slopes in parts at around 25 degrees to the WSW and W, and features several parallel natural fissures running width-ways across it, as well as a number of hollows and channels. The NW extension of the outcrop has similarities with the decorated hog-back area of High Banks 4B. It features around 180 closely spaced cups, some possibly arranged in up to 5 rosette motifs, surrounding 2 cup and ring motifs. The larger of these has two rings and a partial third ring some distance from the large central cup. Inside the first ring there is a circle of very faint possible cups forming a rosette around the central cup, forming a rosette. The second, smaller cup and ring motif has 2 rings, the outer of which is incomplete or eroded, and a short radial. The rock surface SW of this dense cluster of motifs is more sporadically carved, with 4 cups, 5 cps with possible partial rings, and a cup with 2 partial rings. To the E of this, and disappearing under the turf, the rock surface is carved with numerous very faded motifs, some of which are superimposed. They include at last 9 cups, 3 cups with partial rings, 3 cups with 1 ring, 1 cup with 1 ring and partial second ring that extends at one end and intersects with the large outer ring of a cup with 3 rings (the second ring is very faint and partial, and superimposed over a possible cup and ring motif) and a radial, 1 cup with 2 rings with a cup in the outer ring, a cluster of 4 cups with 1 large ring and pecking between the cups and the ring, 1 large cup with 3 rings (the inner two are badly eroded) and 1 cup with 4 eroded or partial rings. The outer rings of several cups with multiple rings intersect with natural fissure or the rock edge. Recorded as High Banks A2 by van Hoek.

C6. Probability

The probability that there is any rock art on the panel is Definite

Comments

High Banks 4A: About 10 of the cups are probable or possible High Banks 4B and 4C: Some motifs are superimposed and/or erased Some of the grooves are enhanced fissures

C7. MOTIFS

Visible Tool Marks? No

Visible Peck Marks? Yes

Section D. ACCESS, AWARENESS & RISK

D1. Access

• Right to Roam access.
• Panel is on Private land.
• There is and interpretation on site.

D2. Awareness

• Panel was known before the project.
• This panel is known to others in the local community.

There are stories or folk traditions associated with this panel No

D3. Risk

Natural

• Water will pool deeply on parts of the surface.

Animal

• There are sheep near the rock.
• There are cattle near the rock.

Human

• There are quarries nearby.
• The rock is located on/nearby a path or place where people might walk.
• This panel has been estimated to be seriously at risk of being damaged or destroyed.

Comments and other potential threats

A comparison of 3D models from casts taken in the early 20th century and in the field in 2018 shows clear erosion in this 100 year period. The panels are in a very exposed position and are continually being trampled by livestock including cattle - a fence to keep the cattle off the rock art would help. The site receives regular visitors, some of whom remove turf covering the motifs.