Excavating rock art in Strath Tay day 6:
This morning we decide to open a new trench directly beneath the main cup marked outcrop. On the final day of the 2017 season we had placed a test pit in this location, and this was an opportunity to further examine the area.
Above: Moyra and Ronnie open up the new trench just downslope of the cup and ring marked rock (Photo: Aaron Watson)
In the main trench, I clean the unusual quartz feature which had emerged over the past few days. It does not appear to be the result of natural weathering. Large flakes appeared to have been detached from the bedrock, moved a short distance and then stood upright in the soil. There was little sense that any material had been taken away. Many of the flakes could be refitted to one-another, and also to the remaining bedrock quartz.
Above: Three views of the worked quartz feature, showing the large flakes placed upright along the exposure (Photo: Aaron Watson)
Above: Refitting split quartz flakes along the outcrop (Photo: Aaron Watson)
Above: A 3D model of the quartz outcrop, showing detached flakes (Photogrammetry: Aaron Watson)
The 2018 excavations in Strath Tay were co-directed by Richard Bradley and Aaron Watson, assisted by Ronnie Scott and Moyra Simon. Many thanks to the landowner and estate staff for their support.