Exhibition showcasing thousands of years of Scottish rock art to open at Aberdour Castle

‘Carving Out Connectioins: Scotland’s Rock Art’ will be open at the local venue on selected dates from Saturday, October 5 to Wednesday, January 8.

The exhibition draws on the Historic Environment Scotland (HES) archives, looking to trace its connections through time and place.

Rock art is one of the most fascinating and mysterious aspects of Scotland’s past. It refers to images, symbols, and marks that have been painted or engraved onto natural rock surfaces.

People have been creating rock art across the world for thousands of years. It can be found deep within caves, in rock shelters, and on outcrops and boulders in the open landscape.

Claire Whitbread, Exhibitions Manager at Historic Environment Scotland, said: “Pre-historic Rock Art is one of Scotland's greatest mysteries. Carvings are thought to have been created up to 6,000 years ago, with pieces discovered every year – almost a thousand have been recorded in the last decade alone – and it is likely that many further carvings have yet to be found.

“After a successful run at Fort George, we look forward to bringing this exhibition to Aberdour so that even more people can discover the beauty and mystery of Scotland’s rock art.”

Entry to the exhibition is included with admission to Aberdour Castle. Tickets can be booked in advance on the Historic Environment Scotland website. Entry is free for Historic Scotland members.

The exhibition is only accessible via a staircase.