Cup and ring marked stone on Dod Law. Photo by Harry Rowland.

(NU 00383177 'A', NU 00493173 'B') Sculptured Rocks. Cup and Ring Marks. (1)

'A' A fine group of sculptured rocks just outside the outer bailey of the western camp on the north or north-east, side of the Camp, on earthfast rocks flush with the ground. Another rock 9 paces west has four sets too complex to draw. They are all rapidly weathering away, being carved on sandstone. Site should be called Sculptured rocks. (2)

The rock (at 'B') is the finest of the Doddington group, and is peculiar in bearing rectilinear forms as well as concentric circles. Three more cup-marked stones lie to the north of the annex of the west fort (at 'A')
('B') This rock contains forms differing considerably from the normal type. It was almost entirely turf-covered until 1855 and now (1863-8) presents an exposed area of 16ft by 8ft. Twenty-four figures are traceable on these stones. (3)(4)

At 'A' there are two rocks bearing markings:- NU 00363178. A slab of outcrop measuring approx 3m x 2m. One cup with double ring could definitely be identified on the lichen covered surface.
NU 00383178 15m to the east is another slab measuring approx 3m x 2m. The main figure is a cup with triple rings, the latter being interrupted opposite a small cup mark just outside the outer ring. The first diagram in T2 refers to this figure. Other figures include four each consisting of a cup with double ring and a single deep cup. Other markings on the rock were too weathered to identify in the bad light present at the time of investigation. No trace was seen of the third
rock referred to here.
At 'B'' there are also two rocks bearing inscriptions:-
NU 00493174. A slab measuring 1.2m x 1m on which is carved a figure consisting of from, possibly five cups, surrounded by what appears to be a double ringed figure but badly weathered. NU 00493173. 10.0m to the south (incorrectly described as 9 paces west in T2) is a flat slab of outcrop measuring approx. 4m x 2m. The largest and most interesting figure is rectangular with rounded corners, overall dimensions 0.7m x 0.6m. The figure is contained by
three concentric incised lines interrupted in the centre of the north side by a slight groove running away from the figure and disappearing under the turf. Inside the rectangle are 14 cup marks.
Elsewhere on the rock are two sub rectangular figures contained by a single incised line and containing cup marks. Each of these figures has a single deep groove running away from it towards the east. Other figures include two cup and ring marks of the conventional type and a small oval figure containing three vague cup marks. Other cup marks are visible some with faint suggestions of surrounding figures but they are too weathered to certainly identify. The encroaching turf probably conceals other figures. See illustrations card. (5)

Rocks 'A' are at NU 00393178 and NU 00403177, while rocks 'B' are at NU 0493173 and NU 00493172.
Published survey (25!) revised. (6)

No change. (7)

A gazetteer of sites on Doddington and Horton Moors lists several cup-marked rocks and other features in this vicinity. Ground level outcrop rock with around 5 cup and ring marks. Other marks possible. NU 0038031770. NU 0049031730 four cup and ring marked stones within 30m of each other. (8)

Dod Law Camp and surrounding stones , marked with cups and rings and other various motifs. NU 004318, NU 00393178, NU 00413178, NU00493173. (9)

NU 00413178. Dod Law excavations site (H00426-8, H00433-40). New motifs discovered during excavation 1984-5 (see NU 03 SW 18). Some portable stones in Museum of Antiquities. NU 00493173 Dod Law main rock (H00429). Excavated in 19th century, has unusual heart-shaped and rectangular motifs. Part is missing. Minor motifs nearby (H00430). (10)

NU 004 317; NU 007 317. Two camps and cup and ring marked rocks on Dod Law. Scheduled No ND/94. (11a)

A report on the rock art in the vicinity of Dod Law West was published as part of the full report of excavations conducted in 1984-5. The report includes detailed descriptions and illustrations of carvings on earthfast rocks and on portable rocks found during the excavation. (11b)

The Main RockH00429NU 0049 3173.
This is one of the most impresive and outstanding panels of rock art in Europe. Mr Tate and Mr Bruce drew the rock and it is clear that part of it has been removed since then. The main difference from what we see today is that some of the western motifs have gone. another inportan observation is that there were three levels of the rock surface, and that the main motif occupy the lowest level, well preserved by peat and turf, and deeply pecked into the rock. The right-hand corner of the drawing shows that some cups and rings have eroded considerably, or were pecked on lightly. A possible explanation for this is that some rock with older motifs was removed, and new motifs put on at a lower level in prehistoric times; prehaps it was deliberately removed for incorporationin a monument. This important, elaborate rock art panel, viewed from the east to appriciate its designs, gives only a limited view of Milfield Plain, although the Cheviots and scarp edge are in sight.
The other small pieces of marked outcrop in the same series are less obvious. (11c)

General association with HER 3795. (11)