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Lewis and Harris

Rubha Charnain and St Clement's, Roghadal

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1speed 1
1speed Oct 6, 2006 12:27:29
Replying to goffik

goffik wrote:
Cripes! Never noticed that! The central positioning in the stone makes it look all the more man-made to me. Although, as I've said many times - I'm no expert..!

I wonder if it may be related to a bullaun? Or something like the "Plague Stone" outside Zennor museum.

Good find! Wonder what other people think..?

G x

Heh heh, I never noticed it the first time I went up the tower (earlier this year) either. This time it just leapt out at me.

From what I can remember, it's near-as-dammit a perfect circle, and while the depression feels comparatively smooth / regular to the touch, it's got the same rough basic texture as the rest of the stone (if that makes sense?) - it's also fairly shallow, so I'm guessing it's not been scoured out by a stone and water, nor do there appear to be other marks of any kind on the stone.

I'll go and have another look next time I'm on the island, and will also definitely try to take in Rubha Charnain as well - had to give it a miss this time as we were "doing Harris" in a day before getting back to Callanish in time for for the moon skim!!!

R rockartuk
rockartuk Oct 7, 2006 13:22:04
Replying to 1speed

Hi guys!
A lot of references are made to, what is called 'the most outstanding church building in the Hebrides, in canmore database (NG08SW 7.00) with a serie of nice photos of the in- and exterior.
No mentioning of a carved stone in the tower though.
There were three major restaurations which took place in 1784, 1787 and 1873.
Now in the latter year the significance of carved stones were known but, apart from that, I can fully understand why this marked stone of different colour was choosen as a corner stone.
There are more 'disc-like' cups known, mainly in the Highland region, and we have added less significant ones to BRAC.
So for us: its a possibly re-used/shaped block with a disc-like cup and ring.
Cheers,
Jan

PS: 1speed; is it OK with you when we use some of your pics on BRAC?
http://rockartuk.fotopic.net
Thanks!