Mr. George Tate on Ancient Sculptured Rocks, <^*c. 163 



strictly typical figures, yet belongs to the same family as the 

 Northumberland sculptures. 



Far north in the Orkneys, at Pickaquoy, near Kirkwall, 

 a tumulus was opened in 1855, and two small sepulchral 

 chambers were found ; in the wall of the largest cell was an 

 upright stone, on which was incised a figure of four* con- 

 centric circles around a central hollow. 



More extensive discoveries of sculptures of the same char- 

 acter as our Northumbrian inscriptions have been made in 

 Argyleshire, in a valley called the Crinan Level, or Moss, 

 which extends some miles northward from the head of Loch 

 Fine. They occur not only on the scalp of rocks protruding 

 from the hill sides, but on standing stones, and on the side- 

 stone of a sepulchral cist. 



One stone in situ is near to Lochgilphead, and is incised 

 with about ten figures — two of which are of horse-shoe shape, 

 and the others of concentric circles with the cup and radial 

 groove. But the principal group is on a large surface of 

 rock, which is called Leach-na-SluagJi ; f and there appear to 

 be about eighty figures scattered over this rock. Almost all the 

 forms are concentric circles with a cup, or concentric circles with 

 both the cup and radial groove. Many of these figures are 

 joined together by grooves, in a similar manner to those on the 

 Whitsunbank Stone — Plate VII., Jig. 3. The groove in a 

 few cases passes through the entire diameter as in Plate II., 

 Jig. 5, which is from a rubbing sent to me by Professor 

 Simpson. In two figures there are as many as eight con- 

 centric circles, and one of the figures is 36 inches in diameter. 

 With the exception however, of a kidney-shaped figure, the 

 forms do not differ from those in Northumberland. 



Of more interest are the sculptures on the standing stones. 

 There are three megalithic groups in this valley, from one 

 mile to a mile and a half distant from each other ; and each 

 group consists of seven stones, not however in a circle, but 

 standing a little apart, without any definite arrangement. 

 Two stones of the group on Largie Farm, Kilmartin, are 

 sculptured, with round hollows or cups and single circles 

 around a cup with the radial groove. Four stones of the 

 group near Duncraigaig, are also sculptured with the same 

 incised figures ; one of these stones is also perforated from 

 east to west, the hole being oval 4 inches by 3i inches, 



• Petrie in Proceedings of the Antiquarians of Scot. vol. ii, part i. 

 t Gaelic — Flat Kock of the host or army. 



