MacBeth's Stone

ScRAP ID 1492 Canmore 30824. Meigle, Scotland. MacBeth's Stone is a large standing stone traditionally marking the grave of a 'hero' slain by MacBeth. It is situated immediately SW of the gate-lodge on the SW side of the Belmont Castle policies; it measures 1.85m by 1.3m at the base and 3.6m in height. It has been described as having numerous neolithic cup marks. On the broad SE face there are at least forty such depressions, measuring up to 60mm in diameter, and most are across the face in a band about 1.4m above the ground. There is modern graffiti (Scott Amanda) and above this an inscription of a horse's head and possibly a flower which appear earlier in date. On close inspection the cup-marks do not appear to be neolithic and may have been caused by rifle fire target practice. The granite nature of the stone is not conducive to cup-marking, and the cups are shallow and many are worn flat or have several flat planes within rather than peck marks. For high-res model of depressions: https://skfb.ly/o6r6D