Description

The monument consists of three cupmarked rocks which are situated close to the old drove road which leads NW from Ford to Salachary.

There are eight plain cupmarks on the upper surface of a boulder (1.1m by 1.0m) which lies on the W flank of a rocky knoll to the S of the track. About 135m NE of this boulder is a rock outcrop, about 11m N of the track, which bears a much weathered group of carvings which includes: one cup with two rings; five cups with single rings; one dumb-bell; and six plain cups. The third example, also an outcrop, is situated a further 45m WNW of the second example, immediately N of the highest point of the track; on its upper surface are two plain cupmarks.

The area to be scheduled consists of three discrete areas, each circular on plan (centred on the cupmarked rock) and measuring 30m in diameter, to include the cupmarked stones and an area around in which associated remains may survive, as marked in red on the attached map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because these cupmarked rocks form part of a group of similar and related monuments in the vicinity of the S end of Loch Awe which have the potential to provide information about late Neolithic and Bronze Age ritual activity. These monuments are similar in range and density to the better known examples from the nearly Kilmartin Valley, and the relationship between these two groups of monuments (and people) is therefore likely to be very important in our understanding of the development of Scottish prehistory.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NM 80 SE 25 and 26.

Reference:

RCAHMS 1988, The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Argyll: an inventory of the monuments volume 6: Mid-Argyll and Cowal, prehistoric and early historic monuments, Edinburgh, No. 157 1-2 and 0.5.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland