Rock Art Database

DUNCROISK 2

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Canmore ID 24167 SCRAP ID 3568
Location OS Grid Ref: NN 53267 36423 Team Not in team
Existing Classifications None.
Date Fieldwork Started 15/05/2019 Date Fieldwork Completed
New Panel? Yes  

Section A. CORE INFORMATION

A1. Identifiers

Panel Name DUNCROISK Number 2
Other names Upper Duncroisk
HER/SMR SM Number 4731 Other
Classifications And Periods
Classification 1 Cup Marked Rock Period 1 Neol/bronze Age
Classification 2 Cross Incised Rock Period 2 Early Medieval
County
PERTHSHIRE

A2. Grid Reference(original find site)

OS NGR
New OS NGR NN 53267 36423
Lat/Long 56.49694 -4.38517
Obtained By: GPS

A3. Current Location & Provenance

Located
  • At original location
Accession no. Not given

Section B. CONTEXT

B1. Landscape Context

Weather Sunny Intervals
Position in landscape Hillside
Topography(terrain within about 500m of panel.) Sloping
Aspect of slope (if on sloping terrain e.g. S, SE etc.) S

B2. Current land use & vegetation

  • Rough Grazing

B3. Forestry

  • No selection

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

  • Other rock art
  • Settlement

B5. Location Notes

The panel is situated in rough grazing on the S facing hillside about 1/4 mile NE of and above Duncroisk Farm, with expansive views over the Glen Lochay valley floor and the Ben Challum range to the W, and S to Corrycharmaig Burn, but no view to the Duncoisk Lower panels adjacent to the river, which are obscured by the rising hillside below. The panel is clearly visible from the area above Duncroisk Farm and is sited on the S side of a small tributary burn which runs into the Allt Dhuinn Croisg below. It lies about 100m above the knoll with the carved rock of Duncroisk 3, from which it is separated by a modern post and wire fence and the improved ground.

Section C. PANEL

C1. Panel Type

In the landscape Outcrop

C2. Panel Dimensions, Slope & Orientation

Dimensions of panel (m to one decimal place)
Length (longer axis) 13.9 Width 12.2
Height (max) 0 Height (min) 0
Approximate slope of carved surface
8 degrees degrees
Orientation (Aspect e.g. NW)
Rock Surface W Carved Surface W Carved Surface

C3. Rock Surface

Surface Compactness Hard Grain Size Medium Visible Anomalies Quartz Veins
Rock Type Schist

C4. Surface Features

  • Fissures/cracks
  • Natural Hollows
  • Bedding Planes
  • Weathering Channels
  • Rough surface

C5. Panel Notes

The Canmore record classifies this panel as a Cross Incised Rock (Early Medieval), with no mention of cupmarks. It comprises a W sloping area of exposed and much-weathered schist, measuring about 14 x 12m and flush with the ground. It bears three groups of motifs, three of which include a cross within a circle, and a possible fourth all on the upper N corner of the panel. The lower cross circle utilizes a natural fissure to extend the incised internal diameter line running NW to SE to arrow-headed terminals at each end. A second cross circle adjacent to the NE has a similar extended internal diameter line running E to W, the W with an arrowhead terminal, the E with a studded crosshead and a possibly separate small circled motif added. The third cross circle adjacent to the NE has a similar extended internal diameter line, its W terminal with the possible cuts of a cross base, its E terminal ending with an arrowhead. There is no evidence to date these symbols and the author could find no real parallel. The encircled cross is not uncommon and V.E. Nash-Williams (1950) includes this in a group which may be dated broadly to the 7th-9th centuries AD. The Duncroisk symbols bear some likeness to those included in fig 5, nos 11-15 from E.A.Cormack 1952. Below this cluster of circles there are 2 cupmarks set in a possible hollow or groove and the area also contains some cruder arrowheads utilizing natural fissures which may be modern. The motifs are as follows, sited between two natural fissures running E-W down the panel: Motif 1: an irregular square shaped motif 8x8mm bisected vertically by a single line running NE - SW through the square. Motif 2: at 280mm to the SSW of above, a ringed cross 170mm diameter. Adjacent to the this an irregular 'eye' shaped depression with a small internal' boss', 140mm diameter with a 30mm wide 'boss'. Motif 3: at 800mm below to the SSW. a ringed cross 170mm x 160mm the NE - SW vertice of the cross seems to extend slightly beyond the ring. Motif 4: at 40mm to the SW of above, a ringed cross of 140mm diameter, the E - W arm of this cross extends to the E as an 'arrow head' Motifs 5: two possible cupmarks 1.1m below the above, one 70mm x 12mm deep, a more problematically second 30mm diameter x 0.05mm deep.

C6. Probability

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

Comments

Two possible cup marks. Three confirmed ringed crosses and one possible.

C7. MOTIFS

Cupmark
cupmark_1
2
Other carvings and motifs
other_motif_4
1

Visible Tool Marks? No

Visible Peck Marks? Yes

Section D. ACCESS, AWARENESS & RISK

D1. Access

  • Right to Roam access.

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 amounts of water are likely to flow over the carved surface.
Animal
  • There are sheep near the rock.
Human
  • The rock is within or on the edge of arable land.
Comments and other potential threats

This panel is subject to continuing erosion due to its exposure.