A project to dig up a prehistoric ritual site described as “Cornwall’s ancient sacred heart” is set to go ahead after it received funding.
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June 14, 2025
Forcing my way to the crest of the eastern inner bank... some things have to be done if you relish that ‘hands on’ vibe.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx east across the enclosure. One wonders how much has been claimed by the estuary waters over time?
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
June 13, 2025
Visited 03.06.25
Cairnholy 15 Carved Panel is located c. 6 feet SE of Cairnholy 13 Carved Panel on a rocky knoll c. 0.5 miles NNW of Cairnholy Farm in Dumfries and Galloway. The panel measures c. 2 feet ENE-WSW and 2.5 feet NNW-SSE. There are two eroded carvings on the central portion of the W half: a cup and ring carving measuring c. 4 inches in diameter and 0.25 inches deep and a cup carving measuring c. 1.5 inches in diameter and 0.1 inches deep. The cup carving is obscured by a white patch of lichen but a slight depression can be felt.
The now no longer very ‘new’ second Severn crossing from the western end of the main inner bank.... incidentally, currently just about the only section of the defences one can ascend owing to otherwise extreme brambles etc.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The inner bank from within – looking approx southeast
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking towards the massive – if more-or-less prohibitively overgrown – inner bank from the approx northwest.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
June 12, 2025
2016 inside one of the burrows a modern artefact looks like someone was digging illegally. August 13th
Image credit: wideford
Visited 04.05.25
Cairnholy 13 Carved Panel is located c. 12 feet SE of Cairnholy 4 Carved Panel on a rocky knoll c. 0.5 miles NNW of Cairnholy Farm in Dumfries and Galloway. The rock art is carved on a sub rectangular panel measuring c. 5 feet ENE-WSW and 5.5 feet transversely, split in two by a grassy ravine. There are 7 cup carving right of the ravine on the N edge: a group consisting of 2 parallel lines of 3 cup carvings and a single carved cup. On the left of the ravine there are 2 central cup carvings and a cluster of carvings in the SW. The SW cluster has an eroded central cup and ring carving surrounded by several cup carvings. Canmore ID 368423 has further details of Cairnholy 13 Carved Panel.
On the SW corner of the panel there are two parallel deep grooves, measuring c. 6 inches and 1 foot respectively, which may be natural depressions smoothed and extended by domestic activity.
Maen llia is directly aligned, along with other nearby markers, with three of the four lunar standstills; major north set, major south rise, minor north set. The minor south set is referenced by the same markers.
This is the major south rising moon, june 11th 2025.
Image credit: Cerrig
Visited 05.04.25
Cairnholy 14 Carved Panel is located c. 6 feet E of Cairnholy 4 Carved Panel on a rocky knoll c. 0.5 miles NNW of Cairnholy Farm in Dumfries and Galloway. Cairnholy 14 is a flat panel, shaped like South America, on the N edge of the ridge. There is a line of natural hollows running E-W on the S side of the panel. There are 2 carved cup markings in the centre of this alignment. The carved cups are c. 1.5 inches in diameter and 0.25 inches deep, adjacent to 2 deep natural hollows. Further details of Cairnholy 11 are available in Canmore ID 368424.
There are 6 carved panels on the knoll: Cairnholy 4,11,12,13,14&15.
Cairnholy 13 & 15 Carved Panels viewed from ENE.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Cairnholy 15 Carved Panel viewed from ENE (20p & 50p Coins for Scale).
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Cairnholy 15 Carved Panel viewed from ENE.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Cup & Ring Carving on Cairnholy 15 Carved Panel (20p Coin for Scale).
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Cup & Ring Carving on Cairnholy 15 Carved Panel.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Cup Carving on Cairnholy 15 Carved Panel (20p Coin for Scale).
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Cup Carving on Cairnholy 15 Carved Panel.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Cairnholy 8 Carved Stone viewed from SSE.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
Cairnholy 8 Carved Stone viewed from NNW.
Image credit: Mark Johnstone
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