Rock Art
We have had an extraordinary summer of discovery! We have realised that one of Scotland's most amazing stories has been hiding in plain sight. Rock Art was a phrase we had heard over the years, but never fully appreciated exactly what this meant. Until now!
More than 3,000 panels of rock art have been found in Scotland with most of them created between 5,500 and 4,500 years ago. It is a wonderful feeling to stand over these historic carvings and feel those people speak to us from across the years. Not just centuries, but millenia!
Common symbols of spirals and cup and ring marks, tell us that these people shared knowledge and beliefs which spanned these ancient times and places. The rain added to the atmosphere as we used a helpful step to clamber over a protective fence just a short 20 minute walk, uphill through a woodland, at the hamlet of Cairnbaan.
Achnabreac Rock Art Spirals
Only a few short kilmoetres from Cairnbaan lies the extensive open air gallery of Achnabreac. Here we wondered at Scotland's most extensive site of prehistoric rock art. On the edge of the forest are a series of rock sheets which were hand carved with cup and rings over 4,000 years ago.
Amazing archeology and Rock Art
Sometimes it is difficult to imagine the lives of our ancient past, but strolling amongst these wonderful pieces of Rock Art gives us a glimpse into the creativity and sophistication of our forebears. Sometimes the art was cleverly woven into with the natural fissures of the rock and many times the spirals were carved to be at their best when the sun shines on them. We will need to return on a sunny day!
