© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland
Tofthills is a cupmarked and cross-incised stone located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The monument consists of a single stone bearing both cup marks—small, circular depressions pecked into the surface—and linear cross-incisions. These marks represent two distinct traditions of rock art, with the cup marks belonging to the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age, whilst the cross-incisions may relate to later ritual or ceremonial activity. The stone lies upon bedrock formed from a mafic igneous intrusion of Silurian age, part of the geological complex underlying this region of Aberdeenshire.
The precise arrangement and depth of the cup marks and incisions remain characteristic of rock art found across northern Scotland, though each site offers unique variations reflecting local practice and choice of natural stone. Tofthills contributes to the broader pattern of such monuments scattered across the Aberdeenshire landscape, revealing the persistence of symbolic marking practices across different periods of prehistory and beyond.
The site is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under the reference SM11574, ensuring its preservation for future study and public understanding of Scotland's prehistoric artistic heritage.
Tofthills, cupmarked and cross-incised stone is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM11574. View the official record →
Tofthills is a cupmarked and cross-incised stone located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM11574.
Tofthills, cupmarked and cross-incised stone 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 SM11574.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Ringing Stone, standing stone, 275m NNW of Johnston (3.1 km), Hill of Newleslie, hillfort, 400m N of Cotetown (3.3 km), Johnston, unenclosed settlement 400m E of (3.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Tofthills, cupmarked and cross-incised stone'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.
Tofthills, cupmarked and cross-incised stone stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician To Silurian, bedrock that formed in the Silurian. The rock here is mafic igneous-rock.