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Airlich Hill is a cup-marked rock located 800 metres south-south-east of Meikle Findowie in Perthshire, Scotland. The monument consists of a rock surface bearing cup marks—small, deliberately pecked depressions that are characteristic of prehistoric rock art found across Scotland and northern Britain. Dating to the Bronze Age or earlier, such markings remain enigmatic in purpose, though interpretations range from ritual or ceremonial significance to territorial markers or hunting magic. The rock sits upon bedrock of the Southern Highland Group, formed during the Middle Cambrian period, comprising psammite and pelite deposits typical of this region's ancient geology.
The monument's survival in its upland Perthshire setting reflects the durability of cup-mark pecking on solid stone. The site lies in an area rich in prehistoric archaeology, where Bronze Age communities exploited the exposed moorland and valley systems. The specific location on Airlich Hill, situated within a landscape shaped by Cambrian geology, would have offered views across significant terrain.
The cup-marked rock is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under scheduled monument reference SM8399, recognising its importance as evidence of prehistoric artistic and possibly ritual expression. Such modest yet significant monuments contribute substantially to understanding early Scottish communities and their engagement with the natural landscape.
Airlich Hill, cup-marked rock 800m SSE of Meikle Findowie is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM8399. View the official record →
Airlich Hill is a cup-marked rock located 800 metres south-south-east of Meikle Findowie in Perthshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM8399.
Airlich Hill, cup-marked rock 800m SSE of Meikle Findowie is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM8399.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Meikle Findowie, stone circle 460m S of, Strath Braan (0.5 km), Trochrie Castle (2.3 km), Ballinloan, mill 130m SSW of (2.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Airlich Hill, cup-marked rock 800m SSE of Meikle Findowie's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Airlich Hill, cup-marked rock 800m SSE of Meikle Findowie stands on Southern Highland Group, bedrock that formed in the Middle Cambrian. The rock here is psammite and pelite.