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Maarten van Hoek The Geography of Cup-and-Ring ... - StoneWatch

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* 1.2.1.2.1.1 <strong>The</strong> west route initially focussed on Loch<br />

Craignish where the important rock art site <strong>of</strong> Ormaig overlooks the<br />

possible l<strong>and</strong>ing place. From Ormaig a short route over rough terrain<br />

led the travellers to a small pass at 190 m (strangely considered by<br />

Bradley (1997: 122) to be part <strong>of</strong> the lowl<strong>and</strong> area) <strong>and</strong> a short<br />

distance further east the gap in the hills leading to Loch Awe finally<br />

became clearly visible. This spot, also marked by a pair <strong>of</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ing<br />

stones, remained strategically important <strong>and</strong> later one built the castle<br />

<strong>of</strong> Carnasserie, the impressive ruins <strong>of</strong> which still comm<strong>and</strong> the road to<br />

Loch Awe. Near the castle, a small portable stone with seven cupules<br />

has been reported.<br />

* 1.2.1.2.1.2 At this point the route from Poltalloch<br />

converged with the route from Ormaig. <strong>The</strong> valley floor below the<br />

photo<br />

FIG. 13: GLENNAN VALLEY.<br />

DISTRIBUTION OF CUPULES<br />

(NUMBERS GIVEN).<br />

A: DETAIL OF EURACH.<br />

castle, however, still is rather<br />

marshy because <strong>of</strong> a blocking roche<br />

moutonnée further down the<br />

Kilmartin Burn <strong>and</strong> the entrance<br />

must therefore have been<br />

inaccessible in prehistoric days, also because rather steep hill slopes<br />

border the marsh (Fig. 13). For that reason the travellers to Loch Awe<br />

continued a little further north along the more accessible west slopes<br />

<strong>and</strong> crossed the Kilmartin Burn without difficulty. <strong>The</strong>re one executed<br />

hundreds <strong>of</strong> cupules on a large piece <strong>of</strong> outcrop, possibly marked on<br />

purpose by a large boulder. East <strong>of</strong> the site is a 60 m high cliff, but to<br />

M. <strong>van</strong> HOEK: 21<br />

GEOGRAPHY

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