Cows and Cupmarks

If you really want to explore in Scotland, be prepared to hang with the herd...

"How are you with cows?"

This was the response from a chainsaw wielding farmer near the Moray Coast when I asked if he’d mind me having a reccy in his field. My obsession with finding off the beaten path heritage sites led me to his farm to scout a cup and ring marked stone I'd found on the OS Map (short for Ordnance Survey.)

My good friend

Bob Cranwell

good naturedly joined me in this adventure, not surprised in the least that I wanted to go shoulder to shoulder with livestock in pursuit of some ancient doodles. In fact, he encouraged it…he’s the best kind of enabler.

I told the farmer I was completely comfortable around cows, so he cheerfully gave me some pointers on where to cross which fences, and the landmarks to look for to know I was near the rocks. He and Bob enjoyed a chin wag while I set off over the fence.

As usual when I'm in a field with cows, they were curious, and I had a whole bunch of eyes on me as I made my way through the fields. As I was hunched over the rocks I felt something watching me and sure enough, a couple of youngsters were spying on me.

What are these alien looking swirls and divets and dots? The jury is still out. They are believed by many to be a form of prehistoric art, but it is not known for sure what messages they might have conveyed. According to Scotland's Rock Art Project there are over 2400 prehistoric carved rocks across Scotland. In the last decade a staggering 1000 have been found!

In many instances, whats seen in rocky outcrops is the tip of the ancient iceberg, as many more such markings may lie beneath the turf, all cozy and protected from weathering. If thats the case in this location, its an added mercy for them to be tucked in safe from hoof fall.

The Rock Art Project goes on to say "These curious carvings were created and used by early farming communities in the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, between around 6000 and 4000 years ago. Scotland’s rock art is not isolated – there are thousands of similar prehistoric carvings in many parts of Britain and western Europe. Although the carvings are widespread, we know very little about their original purpose, and they remain one of the most intriguing aspects of our past."

Thanks for reading!

Lilly