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Scoor Cave

Scoor, Bunessan, Ross of Mull, Argyllshire.

Raised beach sea cave.

The monument is known as Scoor Cave. The cave is situated at the head of a narrow inlet on the rocky shore of the S coast of the Ross of Mull, about 550 m SSW of Scoor. The cave measures 4 m in width at the mouth by 15 m in depth; the maximum height of the roof is about 8 m. Both walls of the cave are profusely decorated with symbols, which are found at heights of from 0.4 m to 1.8 m above the floor. About sixty of the markings are small circular or oval depressions, which make no formal pattern, sometimes occurring in groups and at other times singly along each wall; about half of them are cup-shaped, measuring on average 50 mm in diameter and 10 mm in depth, and are indistinguishable from prehistoric cup-markings; many of the others, however, are conical rather than hemispherical in section, measuring up to 90 mm across and 50 mm in depth, and in some cases appear to have been enlarged, if not actually made, in comparatively recent times. The remainder of the symbols comprise a motif closely resembling a small labyrinth device, a trident and some eighteen linear incised crosses, including plain Latin and Greek crosses, crosses with expanded, barred or bifid terminals, and ringed crosses. The crosses are generally similar to those found in the Nuns' Cave further E along the coast, and may reflect occupation of the cave in the Early Christian period, probably in the late 6th - 9th centuries. No parallel has been found for the trident motif but it probably belongs to the later, rather than to the earlier, series of carvings. Most of the loose stones that constitute the floor of the cave have fallen from the walls in comparatively recent times, no doubt destroying other symbols in the process, and it is likely that the original floor-level was at least 0.5 m lower than the present one. Local sources state that below the layer of fallen rock, the cave floor is made up of shell midden. The scheduled area is a circle measuring 35 m in diameter, which includes the cave and an area around in which traces of activities associated with the occupation of the cave may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map extract.

The monument is of national importance because it has prehistoric, early Christian and perhaps early modern rock carvings preserved in their original setting. It is one of the very few caves in Scotland to contain cup marks, the others being Michael Colliery, East Wemyss, Fife and King's Cave, Arran. The labyrinth motif (photo 5) found at Scoor is unknown in Scotland, but it is found in Ireland, although still rare. The early Christian motifs suggest that the cave functioned as a hermitage site such as at St Ninian's Cave, Isle of Whithorn, and was perhaps associated with the Columban foundation of Iona. It has been suggested that the later carvings may be associated with early modern recusant activity. [Historic Environment Scotland]

Rock-carvings, Scoor: At the head of a narrow inlet on the rocky shore 550 m SSW of Scoor there is a cave measuring 4 m in width at the mouth by 15 m in depth; the maximum height of the roof is about 8 m. Both walls of the cave are profusely decorated with symbols, which are found at heights of from 0.4 m to 1.8 m above the floor. Most of the loose stones that constitute the floor of the cave have, however, fallen from the walls in comparatively recent times, no doubt destroying other symbols in the process, and it is likely that the original floor-level was at least 0.5 m lower than the present one. About sixty of the markings are small circular or oval depressions, which make no formal pattern, sometimes occurring in groups and at other times singly along each wall; about half of them are cup-shaped, measuring on average 50mm in diameter and 10mm in depth, and are indistinguishable from prehistoric cup-markings; many of the others, however, are conical rather than hemispherical in section, measuring up to 90 mm across and 50 mm in depth, and in some cases appear to have been enlarged, if not actually made, in comparatively recent times. The remainder of the symbols comprise a motif closely resembling a small labyrinth device, a trident and some eighteen linear incised crosses, including plain Latin and Greek crosses, crosses with expanded, barred or bifid terminals, and ringed crosses. The crosses are generally similar to those found in the Nuns' Cave and may reflect occupation of the cave in the Early Christian period, probably in the late 6th - 9th centuries. No parallel has been found for the trident motif but it probably belongs to the later, rather than to the earlier, series of carvings. [RCAHMS 1980, visited 1974]

The route to Scoor is via the A849 to just east of Bunessan. The road passes the north side of Loch Assapol before becoming a very bumpy track to a car parking area at Kilvickeoun. We approached by kayak landing on nearby sandy beach, but Scoor cave is accessible from the nearby clifftop path and hikers were also at the cave. The cave is marked on the OS map. It is also a sheep/goat shelter.

Scoor cave is around 3-4 m wide, 30 m long, and 4-5 m high with a flat dry floor. It is a straight passage that remains high and wide until the end of the cave. It contains a large number of wall carvings of varying dates, some pre-Christian. Most are round depressions ground into the rock with 3-4 more elaborate shapes inclding a trident and a labyrinth. Some crosses are also present but appear younger. [Lucy Freem]

Alternative Names: None recorded.

Notes: Access: by land see treshnish.co.uk/how-to-find-scoor-cave/.

by sea east from Port Uisken (NM 39014 18782) and a landing

Either side of Scoor Cave the sides of the gulley are formed from vertically aligned rock strata twisted at 90 degrees from how they were laid down.

A second smaller cave, narrower but of similar height, is located about 10 west and closer to the sea. It containing a pool of stagnant water and was not explored but appeared to be shallow. [Lucy Freem]