Ancient Monuments

History on the Ground

This site is entirely user-supported. See how you can help.

Lorg an Fhamhair,footprint carving

A Scheduled Monument in Thurso and Northwest Caithness, Highland

We don't have any photos of this monument yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

If Google Street View is available, the image is from the best available vantage point looking, if possible, towards the location of the monument. Where it is not available, the satellite view is shown instead.

Coordinates

Latitude: 58.5116 / 58°30'41"N

Longitude: -3.6182 / 3°37'5"W

OS Eastings: 305817

OS Northings: 959292

OS Grid: ND058592

Mapcode National: GBR K6F7.99B

Mapcode Global: WH5BW.DB89

Entry Name: Lorg an Fhamhair,footprint carving

Scheduled Date: 3 February 1992

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Source ID: SM5299

Schedule Class: Cultural

Category: Crosses and carved stones: inscribed stone

Location: Reay

County: Highland

Electoral Ward: Thurso and Northwest Caithness

Traditional County: Caithness

Description

This monument consists of an incised footprint on the W end of a rock on a hill called Lorg an Fhamhair. Towards to N end of an exposed rock the impression of a human left foot has been hollowed out of the rock. It is 0.3m long, 0.15m in breadth across the sole and 0.13m across the heal. The depth of the impression is about 4cm. The area to be scheduled measures 20m in diameter, to include the incised foot and an area around, as shown in red on the attached map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

This monument is of national importance for its potential contribution to an understanding of early medieval kingship. Such stones are well-authenticated in Ireland and Western Scotland down to the sixteenth century. Kings are said to have placed their feet in these impressions when being crowned or while holding court.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as ND 05 NE 11.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Other nearby scheduled monuments

AncientMonuments.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact AncientMonuments.uk for any queries related to any individual ancient or schedued monument, planning permission related to scheduled monuments or the scheduling process itself.

AncientMonuments.uk is a Good Stuff website.