Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Lucinda Cameron

Investigation launched after graffiti carved into historic standing stones

PA Archive

Heritage experts are investigating after graffiti was found carved into ancient standing stones which are legally protected.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) staff found the markings on a visit to monitor the condition of the Machrie Moor standing stones on Arran.

The site is described as a “particularly well-preserved landscape of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments”.

HES said that the stones are a scheduled monument, which means they are legally protected and damage to them, such as graffiti, is a criminal offence.

The organisation said it will be working with Police Scotland to investigate the incident.

In a post on social media, HES wrote: “On a recent visit to monitor its condition, we were concerned to discover that one of the stones has been damaged by incised (i.e. carved) graffiti.

“As well as being a Property in the Care of Ministers, the standing stones are also designated as a scheduled monument.

“This means they are legally protected and damage to them, such as graffiti, is a criminal offence.”

It added: “Heritage crime can cause damage that can never be repaired and forces us to spend less resources on important conservation work.”

The stones are thought to have been used for religious and ceremonial activities by the people that lived there.

The “rich archaeological landscape” includes standing stones, stone circles, burial cairns and cists, as well as hut circles and an extensive field system, which all date to between 3500 and 1500 BC.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.