Find Spot record MHG33357 - Maligoe, East Mey

The ball was found about 20 years ago (1.e. c 1980) by John Bain, of Maligoe, East Mey, Caithness, when he was ploughing in a gully, which runs through the field to the east of the farmhouse. The stone ball weighs 354.4 grms, with a diameter of 65mm plus or minus 1mm. Its spherical surface is randomly covered with small peck marks, with no attempt at decoration or grooves. Soil staining of the rough surface makes it difficult to identify the type of stone.

GW Comment - The Maligoe ball can be considered either as a plain prototype of later carved balls or as a standard decorated completion. D N Marshall (PSAS 1976-77, p40) lists, "Three unfinished balls in NMAS (which) show that the stone was shaped to a sphere before carving of the knobs began". Whichever point of view is taken, this is an interesting perhaps unique example.

Information supplied by G Watson, 20/05/2001