1343: "The Cochno Stone"
Interesting Things with JC #1343: "The Cochno Stone" – Buried beneath a quiet hill in Scotland lies a prehistoric mystery: a massive carved stone etched by hands we’ll never meet, speaking a language we still don’t understand.
Curriculum - Episode Anchor
Episode Title: The Cochno Stone
Episode Number: #1343
Host: JC
Audience: Grades 9–12, college intro, homeschool, lifelong learners
Subject Area: Archaeology, History, Art History, Cultural Studies
Lesson Overview
Learning Objectives:
Define Neolithic and Bronze Age petroglyphs and explain their cultural significance.
Compare the Cochno Stone to other prehistoric rock art found across Europe.
Analyze how modern archaeological technology contributes to the preservation and interpretation of ancient artifacts.
Explain the layers of historical engagement represented by the Cochno Stone across millennia.
Key Vocabulary
Petroglyph (PEH-troh-glif) — A petroglyph is a symbol or image carved into rock. The Cochno Stone is covered with Neolithic petroglyphs.
Cup Mark (kuhp mark) — A shallow, circular indentation carved into stone, often part of prehistoric symbolic art.
Photogrammetry (FOH-toh-GRAM-eh-tree) — A technique that uses photographs to create precise 3D models of objects or surfaces.
Neolithic (nee-oh-LITH-ik) — Refers to the later part of the Stone Age, when farming and permanent settlements began.
Archaeology (ar-kee-AH-loh-jee) — The study of human history and prehistory through excavation and analysis of artifacts.
Narrative Core
Open: Just west of Glasgow, an ancient mystery lies beneath the grass—etched with rings and marks we still don't understand.
Info: The Cochno Stone, discovered in the 19th century, is one of the largest and most intricate examples of prehistoric rock art in Europe.
Details: After being buried in 1965 to protect it from damage, it was re-excavated and fully scanned in high resolution during a 2016 preservation project.
Reflection: Rather than revealing a single meaning, the Cochno Stone tells a layered story of 5,000 years of human engagement—spiritual, artistic, territorial, even rebellious.
Closing: These are interesting things, with JC.
Historical depiction of the details related to the cochno stone
Transcript
Just west of Glasgow, in the hills above Clydebank, something ancient lies hidden beneath the grass—not a tomb or fortress, but a massive sandstone slab etched with symbols we still can’t interpret. Known as the Cochno Stone, it measures approximately 43 feet by 26 feet (13 × 8 m) and is covered with over 90 carved motifs—concentric rings, spirals, and “cup marks.” These are examples of Neolithic/Bronze Age petroglyphs common across the British Isles, parts of Spain, and Scandinavia.
Archaeologists date these marks between 3,000 and 5,000 years ago, around the late Neolithic to early Bronze Age—centuries before writing appeared in Scotland, in an age when stone and early metal shaped communities.
First brought to attention by Reverend James Harvey around 1887, the stone attracted antiquarians and curious visitors for decades. But as tourism grew, so did damage—natural weathering, trampling, vandalism, and even graffiti. In 1965, responsible authorities decided to bury the stone under protective soil—and it remained hidden for half a century.
In 2015 and again in 2016, a collaborative effort by the University of Glasgow and the Factum Foundation unearthed the Cochno Stone—not for display, but for thorough documentation. Over ten days in September 2016, they conducted ultra-high-resolution 3D laser scanning, drone photogrammetry, and detailed photography accurate to the millimeter. All 90-plus motifs, modern graffiti, and even traces of 1930s paint were digitally preserved, then the stone was re-covered for ongoing protection.
Today, the original stone remains buried, but its exact digital replica enables global analysis. Researchers are using this data to explore multiple layers of activity—ritual, territorial marking, potential astronomical mapping, Iron Age or early Christian additions, 20th-century graffiti, even Ludovic Maclellan Mann’s colorful ‘cosmological grid’ painted in 1937.
The result? The Cochno Stone isn’t just ancient art—it’s a 5,000-year-long biography of human engagement. Each generation, each era, has added its mark. Maybe the carvings aren’t meant to be deciphered. Maybe their power lies in reminding us that people across millennia felt compelled to say, “I was here.”
These are interesting things, with JC.
Student Worksheet
What time period do archaeologists associate with the carvings on the Cochno Stone?
Why was the Cochno Stone buried in 1965?
Name two modern technologies used to document the Cochno Stone in 2016.
What makes the Cochno Stone significant beyond its original carvings?
Create your own symbolic carving on paper—what would future archaeologists think it meant?
Teacher Guide
Estimated Time: 60–75 minutes
Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Strategy:
Use image-based word walls for key terms (e.g., petroglyph, photogrammetry).
Show quick video demos of 3D scanning and photogrammetry in archaeology.
Anticipated Misconceptions:
Students may think all rock art is from a single time period.
Confusion between the burial of the stone for protection and ancient burial practices.
Discussion Prompts:
Should historical artifacts remain in situ or be moved to museums?
How do modern interpretations affect our understanding of prehistoric art?
Differentiation Strategies:
ESL: Visual aids and sentence frames for vocabulary terms.
IEP: Simplified version of the transcript with highlighted keywords.
Gifted: Research and present another European petroglyph site for comparison.
Extension Activities:
Use a sandbox or clay to simulate rock carving techniques.
Debate the ethical challenges of graffiti versus preservation on historical sites.
Cross-Curricular Connections:
Art: Study patterns and motifs in prehistoric art.
Earth Science: Analyze weathering and erosion on exposed rock surfaces.
Technology: Investigate how drone imaging and 3D scanning work.
Quiz
Q1. What is the Cochno Stone primarily covered in?
A. Inscriptions in Latin
B. Carvings of prehistoric symbols
C. Gold leaf artwork
D. Dinosaur fossils
Answer: B
Q2. Why was the Cochno Stone buried in the 1960s?
A. To prevent it from being stolen
B. To preserve it from environmental and human damage
C. For ritual purposes
D. To study underground conditions
Answer: B
Q3. Which university was involved in the 2015–2016 excavation?
A. Oxford University
B. University of Glasgow
C. Trinity College Dublin
D. University of Edinburgh
Answer: B
Q4. What technology was used to scan the Cochno Stone?
A. Ground-penetrating radar
B. Seismic mapping
C. 3D laser scanning and drone photogrammetry
D. Carbon dating
Answer: C
Q5. What artistic feature did Ludovic Maclellan Mann add to the Cochno Stone?
A. Celtic crosses
B. Cosmological grid
C. Paintings of animals
D. Written translations
Answer: B
Assessment
Describe how the Cochno Stone provides insight into multiple historical time periods.
Why might some researchers believe the carvings were not meant to be deciphered?
3–2–1 Rubric
3 = Accurate, complete, thoughtful
2 = Partial or missing detail
1 = Inaccurate or vague
Standards Alignment
U.S. Standards:
C3.D2.His.1.9-12 – Evaluate how historical events and developments were shaped by unique circumstances of time and place.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.2 – Determine the central ideas of a primary or secondary source.
ISTE 1.3.D – Students build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems.
CTE.AM.ARTS.1.1 – Understand the history and function of art in different cultures.
NGSS ESS2.A – Understand Earth’s surface processes, such as erosion affecting archaeological preservation.
International Equivalents:
UK National Curriculum History KS4 – Understand how different types of historical sources are used to make historical claims.
IB MYP Individuals & Societies Criterion B – Investigating historical sources through a range of tools and technologies.
Cambridge IGCSE History (0470/0977) – Use of sources and historical evidence to evaluate continuity and change over time.
Show Notes
This episode of Interesting Things with JC explores the Cochno Stone, a 5,000-year-old sandstone slab nestled in the hills near Clydebank, Scotland. Covered with Neolithic carvings—rings, spirals, and mysterious cup marks—it offers a stunning glimpse into prehistoric art and symbolism. But its story is more than ancient: layers of modern graffiti, paint from the 1930s, and scientific preservation efforts in the 2010s turn this stone into a palimpsest of human activity across centuries. Students will discover how science and storytelling converge, using laser scanning and digital modeling to preserve the past for the future. This episode is a powerful entry point for discussing preservation, interpretation, and what it means to leave a mark across generations.
References
Brophy, K. (2016, September 22). Cochno Stone reburied to protect national treasure. University of Glasgow. https://www.gla.ac.uk/news/archiveofnews/2016/september/headline_486607_en.html
Factum Foundation. (n.d.). The Cochno Stone Project. https://www.factumfoundation.org/our-projects/digitisation/the-cochno-stone/
Bradshaw Foundation. (2014, July 21). The mysterious Cochno Stone to be revealed once more? https://www.bradshawfoundation.com/news/archaeology.php?id=cochno-stone
