stirling-1963-vol-1/05_101

Transcription

No. 44 -- STANDING STONES -- No.50
44. Cup-and-ring Markings from Tor Wood Broch.
Three large sandstone blocks bearing cup-and-ring
markings were discovered ¹ among the debris by the
excavator of the Tor Wood Broch (No. 100), and are
now preserved in the National Museum of Antiquities
(GM 36, 37, 38). One, which is 2 ft. long, 1 ft. 2 in.
broad and 8 in. deep, has two markings, each of which
consists of two concentric rings with a central cup
(Pl. 2 C). The outer rings measure 5 1/2 in. and 4 1/2 in. in
diameter respectively, the inner ones both 3 1/4 in., and
the cups 1 1/4 in. Another block, measuring 1 ft. 7 in. in
length, 1 ft. 5 in. in breadth and 9 in. in depth, has one
similar marking and one simple ring 3 1/2 in. in diameter.
The third (Pl. 2 D) bears two concentric rings of
diameter 5 in. and 2 1/2 in. joined by a radial groove
which protrudes for 1/2 in. beyond the outer ring. This
marking has no central cup. The third block also bears
a simple ring, apparently in an unfinished condition,
which measures 2 in. in diameter.
The fact that some of the markings are cut through by
the broken edges of the blocks, together with the uneven,
rough appearance of the sides and undersides, suggests
that these blocks have been hewn from larger stones,
or from living rock, on which the markings had been
previously inscribed.

833849 -- NS 88 SW (unnoted)

45. Cup-marked Boulder, North Blochairn (Site).
This boulder, on which there are said to have been six
cup-marks, ² is reported to have been situated on Craig-
maddie Muir at a distance of 120 yds. NE. of North
Blochairn farmhouse, but no trace of it could be found
on the date of visit. Numerous natural depressions
caused by the weathering-out of small pebbles were,
however, observed on rock outcrops in the vicinity, and
it is possible that the marks recorded may have been of
this nature.

c. 580762 -- NS 57 NE (unnoted) -- 19 June 1954

STANDING STONES

46. Standing Stone, Sheriffmuir Road. This stone is
situated at a height of 896 ft. O.D. on the highest point
of Pendreich Muir, 670 yds. WNW. of the Sheriffmuir
Road (No. 508) at spot-level 776. Lying recumbent on
a grassy patch among the heather, it is a four-sided
pillar measuring 13 ft. in length, a maximum of 4 ft. 6 in.
across the wider side, and a maximum of 1 ft. 6 in. across
the narrower side.

813997 -- NS 89 NW (unnoted) -- 20 April 1954

47. Standing Stone, Airthrey Castle (W.). Thus stone
stands 700 yds. WNW. of Airthrey Castle (No. 287),
just outside the wood that borders this part of the
policies, at an elevation of about 140 ft. O.D. Many
years ago the stone, which is of dark grey dolerite, fell
down and was broken, and the basal portion, now
re-erected (Pl. 3 A), is only 3 ft. 10 in. high; two large
fragments, however, still lie beside the base, and the
original stone is said ³ to have stood to a height of 9 ft. 4 in.
Of a more or less oblong section throughout, the
re-erected stone measures 2 ft. 10 in. by 1 ft. 10 in. at
ground level, swells to its greatest dimensions (3 ft. 2 in.
by 1 ft. 9 in.) at a height of 1 ft. 4 in., and diminishes at
the top to 2 ft. 2 in. by 1 ft. 3 in. Its major axis lies
approximately ENE. and WSW.
Since the date of visit this stone has been removed.

806968 -- NS 89 NW -- 23 August 1952

48. Standing Stone, Airthrey Castle (E.). This stone
(Pl. 3 B) stands about 300 yds. SE. of Airthrey Castle
(No. 287), at an elevation of about 110 ft. O.D. Like
its neighbour (No. 47), it is a pillar of dark grey dolerite.
It is oblong in section, leans slightly south-westwards
(i.e. along the line of its main axis), and measures 9 ft. in
height and 5 ft. by 2 ft. 4 in. at ground level. It increases
to a maximum of 5 ft. 4 in. by 2 ft. 10 in. at a height of
5 ft. 9 in.

814964 -- NS 89 NW -- 12 August 1952

49. Standing Stones, Randolphfield. Two standing
stones are situated in the grounds of Randolphfield
House, on the W. side of the St. Ninians road in the
S. outskirts of Stirling. One, which stands beside the
drive 40 yds. N. of the entrance-lodge, is an upright
pillar of rectangular section, 3 ft. 8 in. high and 1 ft. 5 in.
by 1 ft. at ground level. The other stands 20 ft. N. of the
boundary wall between Randolphfield and Cliffordpark
at a point 40 yds. SW. of the lodge; it is an upright,
rectangular pillar, 4 ft. high and measuring 2 ft. by 1 ft.
6 in. at ground level.
While these stones may not be of prehistoric origin,
there is no reason to accept Nimmo's statement ⁴ that
they were set up to commemorate the action fought on
23rd June 1314, by the Scots under Thomas Randolph,
Earl of Murray, against an English reconnaissance force.

794924 -- NS 79 SE -- 14 February 1954

50. Standing Stone, W. of Doghillock. This stone,
540 yds. W. of Doghillock farmhouse, is situated on the

1 P.S.A.S., vi (1864-6), Appendix, 42.
2 Ibid., xl (1905-6), 325 and fig. 24.
3 T.S.N.H.A.S., xv (1892-3), 119 and pl. III. An illustration
of the stone before it was broken is given by Fergusson,
R. Menzies, Logie, A Parish History, ii, facing p. 244.
4 History, 84, 193.

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