Rock Art Database

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Section A. CORE INFORMATION

A1. Identifiers

Classifications And Periods

County

ANGUS

A2. Grid Reference(original find site)

A3. Current Location & Provenance

Section B. CONTEXT

B1. Landscape Context

B2. Current land use & vegetation

• Moorland

B3. Forestry

• No selection

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

• Cairnfield
• Ditch/Bank
• Hillfort

B5. Location Notes

The panel lies on the W side of the White Caterthun Hill fort below the inner rampart. The hill fort has been described as one of the most spectacular in Scotland. The location provides extensive views to the N and W. The stone may have been moved to its current position as it is broken in two and may have originally been further up the slope. It is reported elsewhere that the stone, just prior to 1875, had been pushed down the slope from higher up on the hill fort and had split in two the parts lying some distance apart having come to rest on the earthen ramparts. The area is heather moorland subject to muirburn.

Previous Notes

The inner walls of this fort remain as a tumble of boulders 0.3m in maximum height. Of the outer defences the inmost rampart stands 1.5m high in front of a ditch 0.6m deep. The outer double rampart is very slight and, on the west, very faint. It is best preserved on the SE where the banks lie 5.0m apart with a medial ditch 1.2m deep. The annexe on the NE has no ditch, and may be a later addition. The additional ramparts on the NW were not located. The interior of the fort is heather-covered, with the site of the well showing as a hollow 3.0m deep. The cup marked boulder was identified at NO 5467 6602. The broken pieces have been re-joined with metal clamps and it now measures 2.0m x 1.0m x 0.4m high and bears about 70 cups marks from 1" x 2" in diameter.

NO56NW 17 5473 6607 to 5467 6602. Generally as described. No 'circular foundations' were seen within the fort. Revised at 1/2500.

Two cup-marked stones have been found on the White Caterthun. One lies on the W side of the fort below the inner rampart, and has about eighty cups on its upper surface. The other was discovered among tumble in the fort ditch; it bears a single cupmark and is now in St Andrews University Archaeological Museum.

Within the interior of the fort, partly overlain by a rectangular enclosure, there is an oval enclosure measuring approximately 39m by 34m with a groove about 1.5m broad by 0.3m deep.

The White Caterthun is one of the most spectacular forts in Scotland, commanding a wide sweep of country from a low hill on the NW side of Strathmore opposite Brechin. Detailed survey of the earthworks has shown that the defences of the fort reflect several periods of construction, the earliest of which is a heavily robbed rampart (A) enclosing an area measuring about 335m from NE to SW by 210m transversely. Around the N quarter, where it is overlain by a later defence comprising double ramparts with a medial ditch, this early rampart is visible as a substantial terrace flanked by shallow quarry scoops along its uphill side. Elsewhere, however, it has been so heavily robbed that its course can only be detected from the flanking quarry scoops. A notable feature of this fort is the provision of numerous entrances; around the N quarter six original gaps can be identified, and others must have existed elsewhere. Roughly concentric to this early fort, set some 28m to 40m down the slope, there are traces of another line of earthworks (B). They are most easily identified around the W half of the circuit, where they comprise short segments of ditch with the spoil cast down the slope, but traces of a low scarp is visible extending their line immediately below the later ramparts (F) on the SE side. The date and purpose of these curious earthworks are unknown but it is possible that they are part of an unfinished line of defences supporting the early rampart (A). The extensive robbing of this rampart, which appears to have taken place at some earlier date than the construction of the overlying line of defence, can probably be accounted for by the construction of the massive stone fortifications at the core of the fort. These defences (C-E) are unrivalled for their sheer scale and must have entailed the collection of stones for some distance around. The mound of rubble from its inner wall (C) is about 20m wide and from 1.5m to 4m high, and the spread of stones beyond it (D) is probably the remains of a substantial outer rampart. Fronting this rampart is an impressive ditch with a counterscarp bank (E). A curious feature of these defences is that there is no obvious sign of an entrance. Causeways across the ditch on the SE and W are composed of tumbled stones, while the gap in the ditch on the SW may be the result of a relatively modern track shown on the first edition of the OS 6-inch map (Forfarshire, (1865), Sheet xix). On the E, however, immediately S of the modern path up to the fort, there are possible traces of an original gap in the earthwork, but there is certainly no evidence of a gap in the inner wall. The double ramparts with medial ditch (F) which overlie the early rampart (A), follow a roughly concentric course around the central stone fort and were almost certainly added as an outwork to it. Like the early rampart this line of defences has numerous entrances; there are thirteen gaps, of which at least ten are original, around the N quarter matching those of the earlier rampart. The annexe on the NE (G) was subsequently added to these outworks. Despite the scale of the effort that has been put into the construction of the defences, there is very little evidence of occupation within the earthworks. In part this may result from the episode of ridged cultivation that is detectable within the interior of the central stone fort. The most obvious features within the massive stone wall are a well at the SW end and a turf-banked enclosure on the NW. Beneath the turf-banked enclosure, however, there are traces of an enclosure some 37m in diameter, defined by a shallow groove in the surface of the turf. Immediately to the NE there is possibly a second enclosure, which measures about 23m in diameter within two grooves set 3m apart. The closest parallels to these enclosures are the surface remains of palisade trenches in the Border counties. Apart from these enclosures, the only other evidence of structures that stood withi

NO56NW 17 5473 6607 to 5467 6602. Visible on vertical air photographs (OS 68/054/174-5, flown 1968).

NO56NW 17 5473 6607 to 5467 6602. NO 5473 6607 Trenches were excavated in September 1997 across four separate rampart systems on the eastern slopes of the White Caterthun hillfort (NMRS NO 56 NW 17). These excavations were a component of Edinburgh University's Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School. The work was conducted partly in response to rabbit damage to the site and to provide data for comparison with that obtained from the Brown Caterthun (NO56NE 1) (Dunwell and Strachan 1996). Trench 1 was excavated across a section of rampart forming part of the annexe on the eastern side of the hill. The rampart was of simple dump construction, with a possible robbed-out external stone face, lying beside a rock-cut ditch c 3m wide by 2m deep. The vestigial remains of a counterscarp bank lay beyond this ditch. The area enclosed by the rampart was characterised by slight scarping of the subsoil upon which a rough cobble spread, which also extended up the inner slope of the rampart, was laid. Trench 2 was opened across the two outermost ramparts. Both ramparts were of simple dump construction and sealed old ground surfaces. A rock-cut medial ditch separated the ramparts, and a second rock-cut ditch lay downslope from and external to the outer rampart. The outer rampart appears to be the earlier and was constructed of redeposited subsoil from the medial ditch. Both ditches showed evidence of recutting. The secondary fill of the medial ditch comprised a thick deposit of turf which would appear to represent collapse from the inner rampart, which may have taken the form of a turf rampart revetted by a timber face situated in a continuous slot. Such a slot was located beneath the rampart base. A palisade was located running concentric to and external to the outer ditch. Trench 3 was located on the eastern side of the hill between the inner stone wall and the outer ramparts. It was positioned across the alignment of reputedly the earliest and robbed-out stone rampart of the hillfort. No evidence for this rampart was located. However, three levelled areas formed by rubble and turf were identified; these appear to represent the remains of terraces. These features were sealed by a thick deposit of brown earth and may represent the remains of former cultivation terraces. Trench 4 was opened across the tumbled stone, ditch and counterscarp bank immediately external to the massive stone wall on the summit of the hill. This trench revealed a rock-cut ditch c 5m wide by 1.2m deep. A shallow and wide rock-cut palisade trench was located adjacent to the inner margin of this ditch, and had subsequently been sealed by the tumbled stone. External to the ditch lay a counterscarp bank sealing an old ground surface. This counterscarp bank appears to have been placed on a prepared terrace which also seals an old ground surface. Both the terrace and the counterscarp bank were cut by a secondary deep and wide palisade trench. It is possible that this terrace relates to the activity described in Trench 3. Finds were restricted to coarse stone tools. Samples were taken for environmental analysis and radiocarbon dating from all trenches. A full report will be lodged with the NMRS. Sponsors: Historic Scotland, Edinburgh University.

NO56NW 17 5473 6607 to 5467 6602. Plan and desrcription in 'The forts, "camps", and other field-works of Perth, Forfar and Kincardine', Proc Soc Antiq Scot 34 (1899-1900), 103-5.

NO56NW 17 5473 6607 to 5467 6602. A survey of the effects of rabbit-derived erosion upon the earthworks was carried out in the summer of 1996. A report, containing a colour-coded map identifying areas of damage, was deposited in the NMRS. NMRS, MS/726/93.

NO56NW 17 5473 6607 to 5467 6602. The remains of an oval enclosure lying within the ramparts of the hill fort were first recorded on RCAHMS aerial photographs. Surface remains consist of a shallow trench up to 0.7m wide defining an area measuring 39m EW by 35m NS. Sponsors: RCAHMS, Soc Antiq Scot. JR Sherriff 1984, 35.

NO56NW 17 5473 6607 to 5467 6602. (NO 5473 6607) Fort (NR) White Caterthun (NAT) (NO 5467 6602) Cup Marked Stone (NR) OS 1:10,000 map, (1972). An Iron Age fort consisting of a double stone wall, probably timber-laced, with earthen outer defences. The inner wall, which probably measured about 40' in thickness, has an entrance on the SE, and encloses an area 500' by 220', in which are a well, probably contemporary with the fort, and a relatively modern, rectangular structure of turf. Feachem makes no mention of the "circular foundations", noted by King, within the fort. Immediately outside the outer stone wall is a low rampart with an internal quarry ditch, while at distances varying from 100' to 230' outside this are the remains of two ramparts with an annexe on the NE. Traces of two additional, probably incomplete, ramparts, unnoted by Christison, lie to the NW. While there is no evidence to show that the various defences represent more than one period, finds include a flint knife, a stone macehead (both in the NMAS) leaf-shaped and barbed-and-tanged arrowheads, a carved stone ball, two bronze flanged axes and "gold medals", one of which bore, on one side, the letter "B R E" round a head, and, on the other, "L C S A T D" around the figure of a bird. A broken cup marked stone lies on the west side of the fort, between the outer stone wall and the inner earthen rampart. R W Feachem 1963; D Christison 1900; E King 1799; NMAS Accessions catalogue; Information from F A Ferguson January 1954. The inner walls of this fort remain as a tumble of boulders 0.3m in maximum height. Of the outer defences the inmost rampart stands 1.5m high in front of a ditch 0.6m deep. The outer double rampart is very slight and, on the west, very faint. It is best preserved on the SE where the banks lie 5.0m apart with a medial ditch 1.2m deep. The annexe on the NE has no ditch, and may be a later addition. The additional ramparts on the NW were not located. The interior of the fort is heather-covered, with the site of the well showing as a hollow 3.0m deep. The cup marked boulder was identified at NO 5467 6602. The broken pieces have been re-joined with metal clamps and it now measures 2.0m x 1.0m x 0.4m high and bears about 70 cups marks from 1" x 2" in diameter. Visited by OS (JLD) 16 July 1958. Generally as described. No 'circular foundations' were seen within the fort. Revised at 1/2500. Visited by OS (WDJ) 4 September 1967. Two cup-marked stones have been found on the White Caterthun. One lies on the W side of the fort below the inner rampart, and has about eighty cups on its upper surface. The other was discovered among tumble in the fort ditch; it bears a single cupmark and is now in St Andrews University Archaeological Museum. J Kenworthy 1980; RCAHMS 1983 This complex fort is situated on the summit of White Caterthun Hill about 700m SW of Brown Caterhun fort (NO56NE 1). It is oval, measuring 140m by 61m within two stone walls; the inner wall is massive and measures 12m in thickness by up to 3m in height, while the outer is 6m thick. Immediately outside the walls there is a rampart with an internal quarry-ditch. The entrance probably lay on the SE and the only features visible in the interior are an ancient well and a recent rectangular turf enclosure. At a distance of between 30m and 70m there is a further line of defence which, for the most part, comprises twin banks and medial ditch but on the N it is reduced to a single bank and ditch. There is an annexe on the E, and outside the outermost rampart on the NW there are traces of at least one interrupted ditch. Finds from the fort include leaf-shaped and barbed-and-tanged arrowheads, a stone ball, and two bronze flanged axes. D Christison 1900; R W Feachem 1977; RCAHMS 1983 Within the interior of the fort, partly overlain by a rectangular enclosure, there is an oval enclosure measuring approximately 39m by 34m with a groove about 1.5m broad by 0.3m deep. Visited by RCAHMS (SH) April 1983. The remains of an oval enclosure lying within the ramparts of the hill fort were first recorded on RCAHMS aerial photographs. Surface remains consist of a shallow trench up to 0.7m wide defining an area measuring 39m EW by 35m NS. Sponsors: RCAHMS, Soc Antiq Scot. JR Sherriff 1984, 35. The White Caterthun is one of the most spectacular forts in Scotland, commanding a wide sweep of country from a low hill on the NW side of Strathmore opposite Brechin. Detailed survey of the earthworks has shown that the defences of the fort reflect several periods of construction, the earliest of which is a heavily robbed rampart (A) enclosing an area measuring about 335m from NE to SW by 210m transversely. Around the N quarter, where it is overlain by a later defence comprising double ramparts with a medial ditch, this early rampart is visible as a substantial terrace flanked by shallow quarry scoops along its uphill side. Elsewhere, however, it has been so heavily robbed that its course can only be detected from the flanking quarry scoops. A notable feature of this fort is the provision of numerous entrances; around the N quarter six original gaps can be identified, and others must have existed elsewhere. Roughly concentric to this early fort, set some 28m to 40m down the slope, there are traces of another line of earthworks (B). They are most easily identified around the W half of the circuit, where they comprise short segments of ditch with the spoil cast down the slope, but traces of a low scarp is visible extending their line immediately below the later ramparts (F) on the SE side. The date and purpose of these curious earthworks are unknown but it is possible that they are part of an unfinished line of defences supporting the early rampart (A). The extensive robbing of this rampart, which appears to have taken place at some earlier date than the construction of the overlying line of defence, can probably be accounted for by the construction of the massive stone fortifications at the core of the fort. These defences (C-E) are unrivalled for their sheer scale and must have entailed the collection of stones for some distance around. The mound of rubble from its inner wall (C) is about 20m wide and from 1.5m to 4m high, and the spread of stones beyond it (D) is probably the remains of a substantial outer rampart. Fronting this rampart is an impressive ditch with a counterscarp bank (E). A curious feature of these defences is that there is no obvious sign of an entrance. Causeways across the ditch on the SE and W are composed of tumbled stones, while the gap in the ditch on the SW may be the result of a relatively modern track shown on the first edition of the OS 6-inch map (Forfarshire, (1865), Sheet xix). On the E, however, immediately S of the modern path up to the fort, there are possible traces of an original gap in the earthwork, but there is certainly no evidence of a gap in the inner wall. The double ramparts with medial ditch (F) which overlie the early rampart (A), follow a roughly concentric course around the central stone fort and were almost certainly added as an outwork to it. Like the early rampart this line of defences has numerous entrances; there are thirteen gaps, of which at least ten are original, around the N quarter matching those of the earlier rampart. The annexe on the NE (G) was subsequently added to these outworks. Despite the scale of the effort that has been put into the construction of the defences, there is very little evidence of occupation within the earthworks. In part this may result from the episode of ridged cultivation that is detectable within the interior of the central stone fort. The most obvious features within the massive stone wall are a well at the SW end and a turf-banked enclosure on the NW. Beneath the turf-banked enclosure, however, there are traces of an enclosure some 37m in diameter, defined by a shallow groove in the surface of the turf. Immediately to the NE there is possibly a second enclosure, which measures about 23m in diameter within two grooves set 3m apart. The closest parallels to these enclosures are the surface remains of palisade trenches in the Border counties. Apart from these enclosures, the only other evidence of structures that stood within the earthworks are provided by eight shallow scoops that are strung out in a line between the stone fort and the earlier rampart on the SE, and a small platform in a similar position on the W. One of the scoops on the SE is probably a ring-ditch house, whose rear appears to be overlain by the counterscarp bank of the ditch that accompanies the stone fort. Three of the other scoops, however, appear to have been cut back into the counterscarp bank. It is likely that all these scoops mark the positions of timber houses but it is not known if any of them relate to the occupation of the fort. Several other ring-ditch houses are scattered across the E flank of the hill outside the defences (NO56NW 43; NO56NE 32). In the absence of excavation, the dating of this site must remain uncertain. Visited by RCAHMS (SH) 28 September 1989 Visible on vertical air photographs (OS 68/054/174-5, flown 1968). Information from RCAHMS (DE) July 1996 A survey of the effects of rabbit-derived erosion upon the earthworks was carried out in the summer of 1996. A report, containing a colour-coded map identifying areas of damage, was deposited in the NMRS. NMRS, MS/726/93. NO 5473 6607 Trenches were excavated in September 1997 across four separate rampart systems on the eastern slopes of the White Caterthun hillfort (NMRS NO 56 NW 17). These excavations were a component of Edinburgh University's Angus and South Aberdeenshire Field School. The work was conducted partly in response to rabbit damage to the site and to provide data for comparison with that obtained from the Brown Caterthun (NO56NE 1) (Dunwell and Strachan 1996). Trench 1 was excavated across a section of rampart forming part of the annexe on the eastern side of the hill. The rampart was of simple dump construction, with a possible robbed-out external stone face, lying beside a rock-cut ditch c 3m wide by 2m deep. The vestigial remains of a counterscarp bank lay beyond this ditch. The area enclosed by the rampart was characterised by slight scarping of the subsoil upon which a rough cobble spread, which also extended up the inner slope of the rampart, was laid. Trench 2 was opened across the two outermost ramparts. Both ramparts were of simple dump construction and sealed old ground surfaces. A rock-cut medial ditch separated the ramparts, and a second rock-cut ditch lay downslope from and external to the outer rampart. The outer rampart appears to be the earlier and was constructed of redeposited subsoil from the medial ditch. Both ditches showed evidence of recutting. The secondary fill of the medial ditch comprised a thick deposit of turf which would appear to represent collapse from the inner rampart, which may have taken the form of a turf rampart revetted by a timber face situated in a continuous slot. Such a slot was located beneath the rampart base. A palisade was located running concentric to and external to the outer ditch. Trench 3 was located on the eastern side of the hill between the inner stone wall and the outer ramparts. It was positioned across the alignment of reputedly the earliest and robbed-out stone rampart of the hillfort. No evidence for this rampart was located. However, three levelled areas formed by rubble and turf were identified; these appear to represent the remains of terraces. These features were sealed by a thick deposit of brown earth and may represent the remains of former cultivation terraces. Trench 4 was opened across the tumbled stone, ditch and counterscarp bank immediately external to the massive stone wall on the summit of the hill. This trench revealed a rock-cut ditch c 5m wide by 1.2m deep. A shallow and wide rock-cut palisade trench was located adjacent to the inner margin of this ditch, and had subsequently been sealed by the tumbled stone. External to the ditch lay a counterscarp bank sealing an old ground surface. This counterscarp bank appears to have been placed on a prepared terrace which also seals an old ground surface. Both the terrace and the counterscarp bank were cut by a secondary deep and wide palisade trench. It is possible that this terrace relates to the activity described in Trench 3. Finds were restricted to coarse stone tools. Samples were taken for environmental analysis and radiocarbon dating from all trenches. A full report will be lodged with the NMRS. Sponsors: Historic Scotland, Edinburgh University. R Strachan and J Hamilton 1997. Scheduled with Brown Caterthun fort (NO56NE 1). Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 15 March 2000.

This site was included within the RCAHMS Marginal Land Survey (1950-1962), an unpublished rescue project. Site descriptions, organised by county, are available to view online - see the searchable PDF in 'Digital Items'. These vary from short notes, to lengthy and full descriptions. Contemporary plane-table surveys and inked drawings, where available, can be viewed online in most cases - see 'Digital Images'. The original typecripts, notebooks and drawings can also be viewed in the RCAHMS search room. Information from RCAHMS (GFG) 19 July 2013.

Oblique aerial photographs of White and Brown Caterthun forts, Angus, taken by John Dewar in September 1970.

These two hillforts are impressive examples of prehistoric man's skills in engineering, using earth and stone to construct defensive ramparts and walls; like the great henge monument at Balfarg (no. 93) they illustrate a social order capable of marshalling a large work-force and considerable resources in terms of quarrying and timber. The Brown Caterthun occupies the broad summit of the hill, with the outer defences set a little below the actual hilltop. The most impressive of the several lines of defence is a wall about 7m in thickness, which encloses an area some 150m by 180m, and is now broken by nine entrances; several outer facing-stones can be seen, as well as stones of the entrance passages, particularly in the south-east flank. Within this fort there is a less well-preserved line of enclosure measuring about 90m by 60m internally. The main wall was additionally defended by double ramparts with a broad quarry ditch between them; breaks in the ramparts and causeways across the ditch line up with the entrances to the fort, and thus belong to the same period of defensive design. The outermost defences comprise two ramparts with an outer ditch and take in an area about 330m by 310m over all; the entrances through these ramparts do not in all cases line up with the inner suite, and thus it is likely that they belong to a later phase of occupation. The White Caterthun is crowned by a massive stonewalled fort measuring about 140m by 60m internally within a pair of walls, the inner measuring about 12m in thickness and up to 3m in height with the outer wall some 6m in thickness. Within the fort there is a rock-cut cistern at least 3m deep at the west end as well as traces of a rectilinear enclosure of no great age.Outside the fort further lines of defence can be seen, including a rampart with internal quarry ditch and further enclosing banks lower down the slopes. On the west side of the fort between the stone walls and the outer rampart there is a large boulder measuring about 2m by 1m, which bears about seventy cup-markings. Information from ëExploring Scotlandís Heritage: Fife and Taysideí, (1987).

Section C. PANEL

C1. Panel Type

C2. Panel Dimensions, Slope & Orientation

C3. Rock Surface

C4. Surface Features

• Fissures/cracks
• Weathering Channels
• Rough surface

Other: The panel has been split in two and efforts have been made to rejoin the parts

C5. Panel Notes

The boulder is a large slab of granite 2m x 1m x 0.4m. The surface of the stone has been subject to some weathering. The stone was apparently pushed down the hill from further sometime shortly prior to 1875 when it had broken in two. Efforts to repair the stone have been made by inserting two metal staples and by drilling holes in the stone in which these were fixed. The metal staples are no longer present although a small piece of metal is in the base of one of the drilled holes. Cement has also been used to join the two parts of the stones together although much of the cement has now also gone. The panel consists of approximately 80 cupmarks of generally uniform size 0.05m in diameter spread across the panel without any obvious pattern. There appear to be two grooves with cupmarks at either end.

C6. Probability

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

Comments

The stone has approximately 80 uniformely sized cup marks and two grooves. There are no visible tool or peck marks.

C7. MOTIFS

Visible Tool Marks? No

Visible Peck Marks? No

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

• No selection

Animal

• There are sheep near the rock.

Human

• The rock is located on/nearby a path or place where people might walk.

Comments and other potential threats

The panel has been broken in two at some unknown time in the late 19th century. The rock was repaired using two metal bars in the form of staples. These are no longer in place but the metal footings which had been drilled into the boulder are still present. Concrete appears to have been used more recently to keep the boulder together. There is signs of muirburn within the locality. The stone is marked on an information board at the nearby car park and is therefore visited by tourists frequently.