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

• Improved Pasture
• Urban/Garden

B3. Forestry

• No selection

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

• Other rock art
• Field System

B5. Location Notes

The site, which is a scheduled monument (SM 11435) lies about 25m W of the Culnakirk Burn in a field of improved pasture on the SSE facing slope overlooking the River Enrick, very near where it enters Loch Ness to the E. There is a polytunnel and house, Clachmhor, to the S and an occasionally used farm track to the W of the stone. There is a second cup marked panel beside the minor road 80m to the SW called the Culnakirk stone. The owner of the nearby house knew of the stones presence in the field. There are several prehistoric sites in the area, a Clava type cairn to the W, hut circles lie to the N and the multiperiod site of Garbeg is about 1km to the E.

Previous Notes

NH 51144 38388 to NH 49873 30900 Work was undertaken, 5ñ28 August 2008, to assess the potential impact of a new overhead electricity line between Ardendrain and Culnakirk. 34 sites were identified. The following sites of note were recorded: Clachmor cup-marked stone (NH43SE 2) SAM (No. 552054), recorded in 1882 as consisting of a large flat triangular block of grey gneiss 5m long, 3m broad and 0.3m thick, oriented N/ S, containing a 113 cup marks. The stone was found to meet the dimensions recorded in 1882. However, only 37 cup marks were noted. Archive: HAS Cait McCullagh ñ Highland Archaeology Services Ltd

Kiltarlity ñ Drumnadrochit (All Dearg ñ Culnakirk) Overhead Line Refurbishment Watching brief Cait McCullagh ñ Highland Archaeology Services Ltd NH 5114 3838 to NH 4987 3090 A watching brief was carried out on the renewal of the overhead electric line, 20 Aprilñ17 June 2009. The excavation of 78 trenches and the removal of 31 poles was observed and photographically recorded. The subsoil in the trenches from the start of the monitored area through to NH 50352 35376 revealed an underlying stratigraphy of glacial till (sand with stone, cobble and boulder inclusions). Much of the remainder of the route traversed waterlogged bog or rough pasture. The subsoil in these areas comprised varying depths of well humified dark brown-black and/or mid-red brown partially humified peat, which on occasion came down onto blueñgrey waterlogged clay. The large quantities of woody material in the upper peat layers of trenches from NH 50031 33435 ñ NH 50015 33280 may represent the remains of relict forests, or more recent forestry. There are many plough scrapes and hollows and a number of modern access paths cut into the ground in this area. All trenches and pole holes were devoid of archaeology. The Creag Ard hut circles at NH 5000 3227 and NH 4987 3215 and the Clachmor cup-marked stone and associated ring ditch at NH 499 310 were marked out before works commenced. A possible hut circle was located 9m W of NH 4987 3213, obscured by heavy gorse, and could be part of the Creag Ard hut circle and cairn field complex. A denuded hut circle was identified at NH 50326 34941 during a walkover survey ahead of trenching. This feature, the Easter Cudrish hut circle, was found to be mostly as described on the HHER and was also marked out. Archive: RCAHMS. Report: HHER and Library Service (intended) Funder: Scottish and Southern Energy

NH43SE 2 49921 31099 Clachmhor [NAT] Cup marked Stone [NR] OS 1:25,000 map [undated]. NH 4992 3109: 'Clachmhor' lies close to the east side of the farm of Culnakirk. It is a large flat block of grey gneiss about 16' long, 9' broad and 1' thick, lying N. and S. The southern half of the stone bears 113 cup- marks up to 4 1/4" diameter and 1 1/8" in depth, many united (usually in pairs) by grooves. There are distinct indications that this stone was once surrounded by a circle of boulders or standing stones. Several of these still remain, 2 or 3 feet in width, 15 to 17 feet apart, on the north and east sides, and from 35 to 40 feet from 'Clachmaor'. On the south- west side, the circle has been obliterated by a rough cart track. which passes over its site. W Jolly 1882. This stone at NH 4992 3109 is as described by Jolly, but no trace of any standing stones could be found. Surveyed at 1/2500. Visited by OS (R D) 3 December 1964. Clachmhor is a large triangular erratic block, situated in a pasture field to the NE of Culnakirk farmsteading. Its upper surface bears at least ninety weathered plain cupmarks, some conjoined in pairs, and measuring up to 90mm by 30mm. A ring of upcast material around the stone probably indicates a relatively recent attempt to move it. Visited by RCAHMS (JBS) 23 September 1997. Scheduled as 'Clachmhor, cup-marked stone... a large flat triangular block of grey gneiss about 5m long, 3m broad and 0.3m thick, oriented N to S, containing a large number of cup marks. It is situated on relatively flat ground above the upper break of a slope on a wide, steep valley, adjacent to a stream.' Information from Historic Sotland, scheduling document dated 18 October 2006.

Section C. PANEL

C1. Panel Type

C2. Panel Dimensions, Slope & Orientation

C3. Rock Surface

C4. Surface Features

• Fissures/cracks

C5. Panel Notes

This is a large erratic boulder of gneiss, roughly triangular in shape, measuring 4.3 x 2.9m and rising up to 0.7m above the grass of the field. Around the stone there is a shallow circular ditch and bank, which was noted by Rev. Jolly in 1882 and interpreted by him as being part of a stone circle. This interpretation was not confirmed by later recorders. On the day of the visit the grass around the boulder was short and there were sheep in the field. Across the S of the stone there are over 84 cupmarks, including several curved and linear alignments, 5 ovals and 2 dumbbells .There are several fissures on the surface, a few quartz inclusions and an area of less smooth stone at the W end of the boulder.

C6. Probability

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

Comments

The joined cup marks appear to be oval

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

• Large areas of the rock are covered in lichen, moss or algae.

Animal

• There are sheep near the rock.

Human

• No selection

Comments and other potential threats

No comments added