Description

The boulder, which is now split, bears cup and ring marks on both halves. The larger part measures 2.4m by 2.1m and bears 54 cupmarks up to 0.1m in diameter and 0.38m deep. Three cups have single rings round them and three have double rings. Two pairs of cups are joined by short channels. The smaller half measures 2.4m by 1.5m and bears thirty nine cupmarks, six of which are surrounded by incomplete rings. The marks are somewhat weathered.

Kintyre contains one of the heaviest concentrations of cup and ring markings in Scotland. Most of them are on boulders on the hills overlooking the west coast. Within this spread there are occasional concentrations. In the concentration around Low Clachaig the boulders lie on the sides of small valleys to the north of the split boulder, and to the south they lie on a west-pointing shoulder of ground. In all, eight boulders are known, in an area measuring roughly 4km by 1km and triangular in shape with its point to the south.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because the cup and ring marks are the best example of their class in Kintyre. Nationally they fall below guardianship standard, but are exceptionally fine. The area in which they lie contains other cupmarked rocks and in addition to their intrinsic importance the Low Clachaig cupmarked boulders are of national importance as part of an extensive grouping on the W coast of Kintyre, and as part of a local group of some eight cup marked boulders.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS record the site as NR74SW 3.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland