Monument record MHG51414 - Cup marked rock at Allt a' Chuillin, Scatwell (site 056A)

This site, recorded by NOSAS in 2007 as part of the Scotland's Rural Past Project,has a wonderful aspect to the south overlooking Strathconon. It is at an altitude of 180m and on a terrace about 1.5kms to the north of Little Scatwell. The whole area has been commercially forested and recently felled leaving a mass of brashings and tree stumps which make access very difficult. There is evidence of improved land in the vicinity with a number of large enclosure and a complex field system to the SE. There are also cairns which may not be clearance. The site comprises one main boulder and three “satellites”. There may well be other cup marked stones in the vicinity.

056A Cup Marked rock - NH 39560 57838 A large boulder of sparkling mica schist measuring 2m x 2m x 1m height. The upper surface is slightly tilted to the northeast and has 54 discernable cups, and probably a further 10 or 12 now too eroded to be sure of. The cups are approx 5 - 7cms in diameter, with the smallest being 4cms and the largest 9cms. Maximum depth of the cups is 2cms. Of note are the two pairs of cups running together and the probable use of natural cracks in the boulder to join some of the cups. On the east edge of the upper surface there is an obvious score which could have been caused by heavy machinery during the tree planting process (ie. It appears to be not too recent). The damage does not encroach on any of the cups. <1> <2>