Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 62

The armorial tombstone, located at St Triduana's Well is of interest because of its inscription and heraldic shield, which combines the arms of Robert Logan and Ker. Robert Logan's right to arms was forfeited in 1609 because of his involvement in the Gowrie Conspiracy which was a plot to kidnap King James VI. AB

An account of the island of Inchtavannoch in Loch Lomond thought to be the site of a religious foundation linked with the pre-Columbian missionary St Kessog. Carved tombstones and crosses from Luss Kirkyard and the ruins of St Michael's Chapel, Glen Luss are described in detail. Two previously unrecorded cross-slabs from Dalgety, Fife and Kirkbride, Dunure and three hog-backed tombs from Logie and Tulliallan are reported.

The objects comprise a smoothing glass from the Hillock of Howe, near Stromness, a stone ring from Stenness, a perforated stone from Sandwick and an old stone lamp from Flotta.

A review of rapier-daggers and rapier-swords with particular reference to a group of twelve from Drumcoltran. All other examples are isolated finds. An incense-cup was found in a mound along with cremated human bone. A flanged chisel is of unknown provenance.

The structure was a sub-oval chamber with five stone pillars which supported a roof of broad stone slabs. It was covered by an earthen mound. Artefacts comprised worked stones including a saddle quern. Two long cists found below the mound which extended beyond the limits of the structure contained only fragments of human bone.

The collection consists of a flint axe; eight stone axes; a stone hammer; an anvil stone; a perforated stone; five stone whorls, one being of shale or jet; a bead, and a small fragment of an armlet of the latter material; a spear-head, forty arrow-heads, six borers, a saw, ten long narrow implements dressed steeply on the edges and flat on the under side, three being chipped on one edge only, forty-two triangular implements of peculiar form, ninety-four scrapers, nineteen triangular\r\nimplements, some of which may have been arrow-heads, five knives, and a considerable number of flakes and blades showing secondary working,all being of flint except a very few which are of chert. All the artefacts came from a fairly restricted location and are described in detail here.

A retable of late mediaeval date consisted of a number of tables or panels carved in relief, set in a framework of architectural character, and sometimes furnished with hinged shutters. This screen occupied a position immediately above the back of the altar. The scenes carved on the tables were in sets, the most usual being those depicting the "Passion," and the "Life of the Virgin"; other sets illustrated the Bible life of St John the Baptist, the Martyrdom of St Catharine, and episodes in the lives of saints and martyrs. Owing to the destruction of the actual retables and of documentary evidence it is unknown to what extent this type of altar sculpture was\r\nin use in Scotland. Many of the Scottish mediaeval churches have unbroken wall-spaces at the back of the altar sites, designed for the display of reredoses or retables. Fragments considered come from Rosslyn Chapel, Paisley Abbey, Mains Kirkyard, near Dundee, St Michael's, Linlithgow and St Salvator's College Kirk, St Andrew's.

Ravensnook and Uttershill are little mansions locally known as castles. Both are very similar in form though Uttershill is of superior construction. Ravensnook is thought to have been built in 1527. It was demolished in 1741 and all that remains is a heap of stones. Uttershill is also thought to have been built in the 16th century though two storeys remain. In 1899 a stone with the date 1511 was found among the ruins.

A bronze patera (or saucepan) from a private collection is thought to have been found in Whitehill. It has a characteristic spreading foot and the handle is decorated by five punched semi-circles and one circle. It is thought to be of provincial manufacture and of 2nd-century date.

Two stone cists were found side by side. The larger of the two was of superior construction. Two long flags had been placed longitudinally on the lid stone to lean against each other like the roof of a house with a flat stone on the ridge formed by the two stones. This cist contained the remains of a crouched skeleton and a cremation burial. The smaller cist contained the remains of a disarticulated skeleton.