Description

The monument comprises a cup-and-ring marked rock-sheet which lies in rough pasture about 85m NNW of Ballygowan Cottage.

The decoration comprises four cups with three rings, two of them with gutters; an unusual cup with three horseshoe-shaped rings and a gutter; one cup with two rings; three cups with single rings, two with gutters; three cups with partial rings; at least forty-three plain cupmarks, some of which are artificially enlarged cracks or fissures; and several lengths of grooving. About 8m S of this rock- sheet, which is within an enclosure of iron railings, is a low ridge of rock which bears three weathered cupmarks.

The area to be scheduled is rectangular on plan and measures 25m from NNE to SSW by 20m transversely, to include the visible carvings and an area around in which associated remains may survive, as marked in red on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because it is an example of well-preserved rock carving which forms part of the densest and most elaborate concentration of later Neolithic and Bronze Age rock carvings found in Scotland. The importance of the rock art of Mid Argyll has been recognised since the nineteenth century and has been the subject of several major studies. In addition, it is part of a group of contemporary ritual and funerary monuments in Kilmartin Valley, a 'ritual landscape', which has the potential to provide information about later Neolithic and Bronze Age ritual practices and, by inference, society.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NR 89 NW 1.
Historic Environment Scotland Properties
Ballygowan Cup & Ring Mark Rocks
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/kilmartin-glen-ballygowan-rock-art
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Source: Historic Environment Scotland