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Whalsay, Brough

Cup Marked Rock (Prehistoric)

Site Name Whalsay, Brough

Classification Cup Marked Rock (Prehistoric)

Canmore ID 1299

Site Number HU56NE 14

NGR HU 5557 6511

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/1299

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Shetland Islands
  • Parish Nesting
  • Former Region Shetland Islands Area
  • Former District Shetland
  • Former County Shetland

Archaeology Notes

HU56NE 14 5557 6511

(Area HU 556 651) There are two groups of cup-marks on exposed surfaces of living rock on the east side of the hillock on which no. 1343 (HU56NE 12 - broch site) lies.

The upper group consists of 10 much-weathered cups measuring about 2" in average diameter and sometimes as much as 1" deep, spread over an area of some 18' by 16'.

The lower group comprises at least nineteen cups, spread over an area of 18' by 10'. The cups are from 2 1/2" to 3 1/2" in diameter and from 1" to 2" deep. Three of them are connected by a slight hollowing of the stone between, which gives them the appearance of a trefoil. One isolated cup was found some 70yds south of these. The cups are picked out, and not ground.

RCAHMS 1946, visited 1936

At HU 5556 6514 two groups of cup marks, as described by RCAHMS.

Surveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (RL) 29 May 1968.

Activities

Field Visit (29 May 1936)

Cup-marked Rocks, Brough.

Cup markings occur in three places near the township of Brough.

(1) [HU56NE 14] There are two groups on exposed surfaces of living rock on the E. side of the hillock, noted as a broch site [HU56NE 12 - broch site] at the N. end of the township. The upper group consists of ten much weathered cups measuring about 2 in. in average diameter and sometimes as much as 1 in. deep, spread over an area of some 18 ft. by 16 ft. The lower group comprises at least nineteen cups, spread over an area of 18 ft. by 10 ft. The cups here are from 2 ½ in. to 3 ½ in. in diameter and from 1 in. to 2 in. deep. Three of them are connected by a slight hollowing of the stone between, which gives them the appearance of a trefoil (Fig. 555 [SH 18]). One isolated cup was found some 70 yds. S. of these.

(2) [HU56SE 10] About 250 yds. S. of No. 1343, on. the E. side of the road and about 80 yds. S.W. of Houll, are three other groups on the tops of rocky outcrops. One group consists of six cups; another, some 6 ft. to the N.E., of four; and another, 35 ft. to the S., of two.

(3) A further group, situated at a place called the Steep Toons, east of Houll, was reported by a local observer, Mr. J. Stewart, after the date of visit.

The cups of all three groups are generally similar, as all are pecked out and not ground; they also seem to be similar in workmanship to those which are found on detached stones and water-worn boulders at the sites of certain brochs and other structures. They differ from these, however, in the fact that they, like many Bronze Age cup-markings, are spread over areas of living rock.

RCAHMS 1946, visited 29 May 1936.

Publication Account (1997)

The bare rock-faces on the east side of this knoll display two well-preserved groups of pecked cupmarks, about thirty in all, but they lack the elaboration of rings and other markings found elsewhere in Scotland. The lower group includes three joined in a trefoil shape.

Information from ‘Exploring Scotland’s Heritage: Shetland’, (1997).

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