BGCP_34: Rob Roy MacGregor
Fisher A; Stuart 3; Drummond 2; Ross & Cooper 4.3
Site co-ordinates: 48.90/26.90
This is the central of three graves within the iron railing surrounding the Rob Roy family graves, marked on the railing as:
ROBERT MACGREGOR.
(ROB ROY)
DIED 28 DEC. 1734 (O.S.)
AGED ABOUT 70.
The slab measures 1.84 m long (W–E) and 0.47 m wide. It comprises bands of variable colours and textures aligned NW–SE. It is richly and densely, if rather crudely, carved, and includes a human figure, one of only two carved figures known from the graveyards (the other being the priest depicted on the Angus Stone). The decoration comprises a number of distinct elements:
A serpentine border runs from the slab’s NW corner, across the head and at least halfway down the S side; although there is some damage to the edges of the slab, there are no signs of this border elsewhere. There is, however, a straight line at the foot of the slab forming a narrow border at the E end.
Inside the serpentine border at the head is a wide incised sub-circle up to 0.35 m in diameter, with a zigzag (denticulate) fill inside its upper half. The circle is most clearly incised on the W and S sides and only faintly visible to the N. In its centre is a deeply incised swastika-type symbol, up to 0.26 m wide. Each section is slightly curved and the four arms are sharply angled, formed of two parallel lines 20–30 mm apart. Extending 0.63 m E from the base of the circle are two parallel and slightly sinuous lines of light picking, meeting at a rounded terminal to the E. Together, these different elements might be interpreted as a form of cross.
Flanking the lower part of the circle on either side is a pair of small ‘boxed’ swastika-type symbols, quite different in form from the large symbol described above. Each comprises an interlocking square arrangement of 4 L-shaped blocks.
Below the small swastika-type symbol on the N side of the slab is the deeply incised outline of a human figure, viewed in profile facing to the right; in places (between the legs) the carving is in shallow relief. He has a large sub-rounded head, but no facial features perhaps indicating that he is wearing some kind of helmet. No right arm is obviously depicted, but the line indicating his chest stops short of a circular symbol (see below) which could indicate the position of a bent arm. He is wearing some form of waisted garment that falls to above the knees. The stem of the cross (above) appears to avoid this garment, and so may have been added later than the figure.
In front of the figure’s waist is a circular object, 120 mm in diameter, possibly a targe (shield); the N half of this has been lost through damage, but it bears the relief carving of what may be a cross (or a five-point radial motif), the arms of which appear to be T-shaped. Markings in front of the figure’s legs give the impression of interlace or knotwork, although one forward-sloping element might possibly be the end of a hanging sword.
To the south, behind the figure, is the outline of a sword, possibly a claymore, 0.68 m long, with downward angled quillons, a bulbous pommel and a 70 mm wide blade. The tip of the blade is rounded.
Below the figure is a large irregular X-shaped object, possibly blacksmith’s tongs or similar tool; a line joining the two long ‘handles’ appears to be a natural crack.
Below the sword is an irregular arrangement of four indeterminate animals, possibly a hunting scene. Two (probably 3) of the animals are facing NE with their legs to the NW), while the largest animal,(at the E) faces S with its legs to the W. Near its head, at the SW corner, is one (possibly two) small snail-like spirals.
It is possible that these different elements comprise different phases of decoration, and the above is only a preliminary description of this slab. Further analysis is to be undertaken in due course.
For further information on sources see BGCP Bibliographic References after the last entry.
