Unidentified cup marks

Kilmartin Area 12

Image by Martin

Emma A Sep 13, 2012 13:46:44

Does anyone know the Crinan/Tayvallich/Loch Sween area?
Whilst on holiday there this June, I found some cup marks which I can't find any references to anywhere!
They are roughly at NR765935 off to the right of the Ardnoe cycle route from Crinan heading towards Carsaig bay. There is a boardwalk leading to them. They are on Forestry Commission land, so they could have been made by forestry work I suppose, but I don't know why there's be a boardwalk leading to them if they weren't interesting!

Anyway, hopefully someone knows what I'm on about and can help!
Here are some (poor quality) photos I took:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152128963260204.915749.771470203&type=3&l=837e20cafe

The final photo shows some hollows in a rock by the shore of Loch Sween. I took them to be natural - does anyone know how they'd have been made? I don't think the water level reaches that high.
Thanks in advance for any help!

tiompan Sep 13, 2012 17:29:34

Replying to Emma A

Emma A wrote:

Thanks Emma , there were some cup marks found in 2006 at NR 76391 92882 near the cycle route but these were on an erratic and as usuual on the top of the rock not the vertical face . Never fair to judge from pics but I doubt they are cup marks , they are much bigger than even big cup marks and look very regular without much depth . Could be man made but I doubt prehistoric .
The vertical wall from Loch Sween may be explained by them being concretions ,there is a marine creature , the pholas , that creates regular ring shaped markings on sandstone near water but they are usually deeprer and not sure if they are likely to found on vertical walls unless there is some geological explanation .Hope that helps .
Maybe get in touch with Kilmartin House they might help .