Rock Art Database

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Section A. CORE INFORMATION

A1. Identifiers

Classifications And Periods

County

WEST LOTHIAN

A2. Grid Reference(original find site)

A3. Current Location & Provenance

Section B. CONTEXT

B1. Landscape Context

B2. Current land use & vegetation

• No selection

Other:Cemetery

B3. Forestry

• No selection

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

• No selection

Other: Church

B5. Location Notes

This is a relatively soft sandstone pillar in the graveyard of Torphichen Preceptory. It stands 0.8m high and is square in cross section 0.33 x 0.33m. The stone is slightly narrower at the base swelling uniformly towards the top although this may have been caused by erosion rather than having been shaped in this fashion. On the uppermost face is a hollow cup and a grooved cross. On the E face there are 5 depressions 0.05m across. Also on the E face are a number of natural erosion channels which are long and narrow with hollows.

Previous Notes

NS97SE 25 9684 7250 See also NS97SW 2, and NS97SE 12, 22 and 30. For Torphichen Preceptory (NS 96893 72516) and associated monuments, see NS97SE 7. (NS 9684 7250) Refuge Stone (NR) OS 6" map (1968) This square sandstone pillar stands 2 1/2' high, in Torphichen churchyard. It has been shaped, the sides swelling uniformly from the ground to the top, which is 12 1/2" square. There are 5 cup marks and a 6 3/4" long channel on the E face; on the top is a circular socket 2" in diameter and 1 1/2" deep, connected with a cross-shaped channel, 6 1/2" over the arms. The latter features probably have no connections with the cup marks. It is thought to mark the centre of a privileged sancturay ground attached to the preceptory (F H Groome 1901). (See also NS97SW 2, NS97SE 12, 22, 30 for stones marking the boundary of the sancutuary area). RCAHMS 1929, visited 1924; R W B Morris 1969 As described. Visited by OS (JLD) 8 December 1952 and (JP) 20 August 1974. Scheduled as 'Torphichen Preceptory, refuge stone at Torphichen Kirk... a square sandstone pillar standing within Torphichen churchyard. Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 22 February 2005.

Section C. PANEL

C1. Panel Type

C2. Panel Dimensions, Slope & Orientation

C3. Rock Surface

C4. Surface Features

• Natural Hollows
• Bedding Planes
• Weathering Channels
• Rough surface

C5. Panel Notes

The square sandstone block has a single deep depression on the top surface and a grooved cross which has been reported may have been used for baptisms. On the uppermost face is a hollow cup and a grooved cross. On the E face there are 5 depressions 0.05m across. They have no peck marks or grooves associated with them and, although they do not appear to be natural neither do they appear to be prehistoric cupmarks. It has previously been reported that this was a stone that had prehistoric cupmarks and that it was later re-used by the Knights Hospitaller who had built the Preceptory in the 12th Century. However, there is nothing that would determine that the cup like depressions were on the stone prior to the cross being inscribed on the top surface and the cup like depressions may have been added at a later date, possibly by enhancing natural erosion anomalies on the stone. The softness of the stone block would suggest that the depressions are unlikely to have lasted since the Neolithic/Bronze Age. There are also reports that one of the other faces had Celtic carvings although nothing could be seen on location or by viewing the 3D model. The lower section of the E face of the stone had a large number of erosion channels and hollows which appeared to have been caused by weathering after the stone had been squared.

C6. Probability

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

Comments

The cup marks do not appear to be neolithic/bronze age. The cross motif on the uppermost surface is reported to be 13th century. There are five depressions on the E face of the stone which have previously been described as bronze age cup marks and although they do not appear to be wholly natural they are not convincing neolithic/bronze age cup-marks and may be of a date contemporary with the cup and cross on the top of the stone.

C7. MOTIFS

Visible Tool Marks? No

Visible Peck Marks? No

Section D. ACCESS, AWARENESS & RISK

D1. 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

• There are trees nearby whose roots might disturb the rock.

Animal

Human

• The rock is located on/nearby a path or place where people might walk.
• The rock is in an area with visitor facilities.

Comments and other potential threats

The stone is reported to have been re-located from the neolithic site at Cairnpapple Hill some 1.5 miles to the E and that the five small cup-marks on the E side of the stone date from that period. It is suggested that the stone was then set up in the 12th century by the Knights Hospitallers (Knights of St John) at Torphichen Preceptory to mark out a place of sanctuary or refuge for local people and pilgrims from further afield who wished to seek 'a place of safety' and that the incised cross was carved on the top of the stone and the little hollow carved to either hold a cross or holy water. However, it is also suggested that the stone was already at Torphichen Preceptory before the Knights Hospitallers and that the stone was previously used by St Ninian, who had settled here in the 4th century and, in the 7th century by St Fechin, an Irish monk and missionary from the monastery of Fore, County Westmeath – the Celtic-style carving on the stone reportedly would date from this time, but can no longer be seen. Two of the Refuge Stones associated with the Sanctuary tone were also modelled - Gormyre Stone https://skfb.ly/o6IZM and Craigmailing Boundary Stone https://skfb.ly/o6DoT