Carnasserie Rock Art Excavations 2023
Aims and Approach
We approached the excavations with a series of broad questions in mind:
Is there a relationship between these carved rocks and the wider landscape, including views, water, and natural features?
Do the carvings interact with the geological features on the rocks, including cracks and fissures?
Is it possible to date the creation or use of these rock art sites?
What is the relationship between the rock art found on bedrock outcrops and that which was built into the fabric of monuments such as standing stones and cists?
Were carved panels made in one visit, or did they accumulate over time?
Can we detect evidence of any activities which took place upon the rocks or around their margins?
What was the environment like when rock art was made?
What was it like to make rock art? What experiences were involved?
Is there a connection between these carved rocks and the sun?
The project investigated three carved outcrops using a combination of survey, excavation and recording. Our specific aims were to:
Record evidence for any features, deposits or artefacts associated with the carvings. Alongside hammerstones and quartz debris, previous projects in the area revealed fragments of flint and Arran pitchstone, as well as evidence of later activities, environmental evidence and dateable materials
Reveal the extent of the carvings. This will allow us to add to the existing records for these sites through survey, photography and photogrammetry (three-dimensional digital recording)
Once complete, the trenches were backfilled and reinstated.
