Rock Art Database

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Section A. CORE INFORMATION

A1. Identifiers

Classifications And Periods

County

INVERNESS-SHIRE

A2. Grid Reference(original find site)

A3. Current Location & Provenance

Section B. CONTEXT

B1. Landscape Context

B2. Current land use & vegetation

• Rough Grazing

B3. Forestry

• No selection

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

• Field System
• Settlement

Other: Graveyard

B5. Location Notes

Positioned on a NW facing slope approximately 300 m uphill, to the west of the commonwealth graveyard at Blarmachfoldach is a large glacial boulder. It sits within a small glen which runs NE to SW, on the SE slopes. Looking NE, the site is overshadowed by the imposing slopes of Ben Nevis. The West Highland Way, a long distance walking route, passes above the site 500 m to the SE. To the NE there is an extensive forestry plantation; the rough grazing - within which the boulder is situated - extends to the tree line. Within this forestry are the remains of the deserted township known as Tollie (Canmore ID: 77282). The old military road, the only route in and out of Blarmachfoldach can be found 650 m to the west. On the road, the Allt Riasgaig Bridge (Canmore ID: 74595), lies roughly 750 m to the W of the boulder. The boulder sits at the southern most end of a flat area on the summit of a low ridge on the SE side of the glen. Directly to the S of the boulder, a sharp drop leads to a burn below which flows from the slopes of Blarmacdrynie to the E. A second burn, Allt na Criche, can be found at the base of the glen, 250 m to the NW. At the time of recording the boulder was positioned close to a fence line which runs directly E / W. Adjacent to this same fence line, 60 m W of the boulder are the low lying remains of the footprint of a post-medieval building. From the location of the boulder, there are extensive views to the SE, N and NW across the glen. Within a few metres, to the S and W of the main boulder, there are two smaller rocks, neither of which have been decorated with motifs.

Section C. PANEL

C1. Panel Type

C2. Panel Dimensions, Slope & Orientation

C3. Rock Surface

C4. Surface Features

• Fissures/cracks
• Natural Hollows

C5. Panel Notes

The carved boulder is of substantial size, roughly 2-2.2 m in width and just short of a metre in height. The upper surface of the rock is relatively flat, with a dip between two higher sections on the NE and W sides. The motifs have been carved within the dip on the flat, upper surface, and extend down the sloping N edge, between the elevated sections, with three cupmarks on the raised W area. A total of 24 cup marks have been carved into the rock surface. A tight group of seven are positioned on the sloping area at the N edge, a second group of 12 sit on the flat surface towards the centre of the upper surface, with two cupmarks resting between the two main groups, and a final three - one deeper and two shallower - can be found on the raised W area. Within both groups there are two particularly deep cupmarks; the majority are a medium depth, and several are relatively faint. There are a number of natural grooves, hollows and cracks across the surface of the rock but of most significance perhaps is a large area of exposed, white quartz on the southern side of the boulder which could have, conceivably, been of importance to the individuals who selected this rock for carving purposes. The motifs were re-discovered and shown to the recorder by Mr Chris Robinson, a retired GP, who has a particular interest and a rich knowledge of the Blarmachfoldach area. Mr Robinson reported reading about the motifs in an old, geological journal about glacial erratics in the Blarmachfoldach area where the motifs were mentioned in passing. Mr Robinson then field walked the area and rediscovered the rock, and the motifs. He also carried out further field walking in the area and has since discovered another cupmarked boulder approximately 950 m to the E.

C6. Probability

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

Comments

A small number of the cupmarks are considerably deeper than the others, and a handful are quite shallow.

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.

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.

Human

• No selection

Comments and other potential threats

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