Perthshire Cup-Marks

Cup-Marks, also called petroglyphs or rack art have alluded man for over a century. They range from simple hollows about an inch (12 mm) across, carved on rock, to large 'basins' 6 inches (15 cm) wide. Some are surrounded by a ring or rings which may be gapped or have a groove running through them. Others are joined together by a groove, usually running from the cup, suggesting to some people that the stones were once used for sacrificial purposes and the grooves let the blood run away, although there is no archaeological evidence for this.

There are many theories regarding cup-marks. These include a belief in magic, in the afterlife, use as a tuning device and a a plan for megalithic structures. There have been some clues which might lesd to rediscover the reason behind this ancient art.

• Cup-marks are nearly always carved where there is a a good open view, often within sight of the sea or estuary.
• Carvings on outcrops of rocks are usually made on parts of the rock which are horizontal
• There is no evidence of any fortification of the site
• On standing stones, carvings appear on the principal stones on an astronomical alignment
• If they are on outcrops of natural rock, they are within 6 miles (10 kilometres) of a site where copper or gold ore has been worked.

Cup-marked stones emit energies of unusual qualities. A particular example is the cup-marked stone at Connachan Farm\\it lies in the centre of a hollow in the hills near entrance to the beautiful Sma' Glen, to the north-east of Crieff, near the Foulford Inn. It would appear that cup-mark energy had been used and focused through the dead in the surrounding prehistoric burial grounds and other ancient sites, much as they had done when they were constructed thousands of years ago.