Cast of cup-and-ring marks

This is a plaster cast of cup and ring marked stones at theStewartryMuseum, Kirkcudbright. The originals are on an outcrop of rock at the farm of High Banks, Kirkcudbright.   Cup and Ring carvings were mans first attempts at stone sculpture. They were carved at various dates from 3200BC to 700AD. These shown here were possibly made about 1600BC.   No one is certain of the meaning of cup and ring markings but it was probably mystic or religious and in this case may have been made by early copper prospectors to invoke the help of the sun-god in their search.