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Rare Neolithic or Bronze Age rock art in Ross-shire


Seeing as nobody else has posted it... ;)

"A rare example of prehistoric rock art has been uncovered in the Highlands.

Archaeologists made the discovery while moving a boulder decorated with ancient cup and ring marks to a new location in Ross-shire.

When they turned the stone over they found the same impressions on the other side of the rock. It is one of only a few decorated stones of its kind.

John Wombell, of North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NOSAS), said: "This is an amazing discovery."

Susan Kruse, of Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands (ARCH), first discovered the stone at Heights of Fodderty several years ago when out walking.

The second set of cup and ring marks were uncovered recently when archaeologists were moving the stone to a new site at nearby Heights of Brae Neil Gunn Viewpoint.

From the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the art was created between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago."

Full story and pics: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-26366644
goffik Posted by goffik
28th February 2014ce
Edited 1st March 2014ce

Comments (2)

I can see that they didn't move it very far, just down the road. And that it will get more admiring visitors at the Neil Gunn monument. And it's very exciting that it turns out to be double-sided and all that. But are archaeologists supposed to move things about like that, take them out of their context? I mean I love to see the pool farm cist cover in bristol museum, and the stones in Edinburgh museum were amazing. But they're not quite the same things when they're presented all formally. It just seems a bit odd.

But maybe the more people see such things the more they'll be valued. But they won't be seeing it in its natural environment. It doesn't seem quite the same to me.
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
1st March 2014ce
Bit more information from Culture24. Now this I like, not 'ritual' but the doodling of bored shepherds. 'Turn the stone over Fred, and I'll do some grinding on the other side' or maybe the first star picture was all wrong and he had to start again...

http://www.culture24.org.uk//history-and-heritage/archaeology/megaliths-and-prehistoric-archaeology/art469513-Archaeologists-say-Rossshire-rock-art-poses-tantalising-questions-northern-Scotland?
moss Posted by moss
1st March 2014ce
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