Rock Art Reported
During April 2007, a large number of rock carvings were identified from across the WoSAS area. In Argyll, Mr George Currie has identified a large number of previously unrecorded cup-marked rocks, while in Inverclyde, Mr Louis Pastore has identified what may be a representational carving of a horse, along with a cup-marking, from the area of Gourock Golf Course.
Cup and ring markings are reasonably common in Scotland, though their meaning and significance have been the subject of much debate. Some date back to the Neolithic, but the tradition of creating these features also appears to have been in use during the Bronze Age. Various interpretations have been put forward, from the suggestion that they may represent maps or markers in the landscape, to the idea that they may be associated with rites of passage or fertility rituals.
During the course of his fieldwork, Mr Currie has identified a large number of cup-marking from various areas of Argyll, including examples from the parishes of South Knapdale, Kilmodan, Kilfinan, and Killean and Kilchenzie. The example at the top of the page was identified from Ballochroy, in the parish of Kilcalmonell. Mr Currie's site report for this group was as follows: "Twenty metres east of a fence and on the south side of the Ballochroy to Corriecrevie track among field clearance, a thin slab 1.3 m x 0.7 bearing 10 cup marks, the largest of which measures 50 mm x 12. The rock has a distinctive central triangular area removed. This rock has some similarities to NR 75SW6 but is sufficiently different in shape dimension and siting to be considered different."
A number of cup-marked rocks have previously been recorded from the area of Gourock Golf Course. Mr Pastore identified an additional example from the vicinity of the Mile Burn, and also reported a possible rock carving. Mr Pastore reports that when he originally came across the site, he first noticed the semi-circular groove at the base of the rock. Closer inspection revealed what he at first interpreted to be a five finger/hand like shape cut into the middle of the semi-circle. Climbing onto the sloping boulder and viewing the shape from the opposite angle raised the possibility that 4 of the grooves could be legs, and that the feature identified as the the 'thumb' might actually be a tail. Mr Pastore poured some water over the area, which helped him to identify what may was a horse-like animal. A photograph of the carving, supplied by Mr Pastore, is shown below
