Rock Art Excavation 2023 (draft)

Carnasserie Rock Art Excavation 2023

Introducing the project

In the autumn of 2023, Kilmartin Museum joined forces with Archaeology Scotland* to undertake archaeological excavations at three prehistoric rock art sites in Kilmartin Glen. The Kilmartin area has long been recognised as an internationally significant focus for enigmatic carvings dating to the Neolithic and Bronze Age.

Carved stones are found at monuments, including the Temple Wood Stone Circles and the Nether Largie North Cairn, as well as on rocky outcrops in the wider landscape. This new investigation explored cup and ring markings in the landscape.

The three sites we examined are located at Carnasserie Farm, which has been the focus for several of the Museum’s previous surveys and excavations. Over 240 sites have been recorded there, from post-medieval abandoned townships to prehistoric monuments. Scotland’s Rock Art Project also recorded the rock art there using photogrammetry.

Please click below for further information about the project:

Many thanks

The Carnasserie Farm Rock Art project was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The fieldwork was co-directed by Dr Aaron Watson and Dr Sharon Webb (Kilmartin Museum) and Dr Gavin MacGregor and Kieran Manchip (Archaeology Scotland). Julia Hamilton and Jacquelyn Condie from Kilmartin Museum’s Education Team facilitated school visits and supported the open days. We want to say a massive thank you to all the volunteers who made the project possible and to geologist Dr Roger Anderton for his expertise. Thanks also to Ann Clark for the lithics analysis, Dr Susan Ramsay for the archaeobotanics and Dr Alison Sheridan for commenting on the pottery. Finally, we extend our grateful thanks to the landowner at Carnasserie Farm, Rosemary Neagle.