Stone No 016

In one corner of the car park there are neat stacks of stones, many of which came from the castle's door surround, all waiting for conservation work before they go back into the castle.  Every stone has been given a number by Addyman Archaeology, and has its own computer record.  This has its condition, where it came from, a detailed description, its likely provenance, and a photo.

I was shown stone 016 by lead archaeologist Tom Addyman.  He explained that it is particularly special, partly as it's probably 13th century, but mostly because it's another example of an artifact which has a direct connection back, over seven hundred years, to an individual.  It comes from the inner cheek of the door jamb, and it was probably cut from a quarry near Lochaline.  Carved onto the face nearest the measuring pole....

....is a Z mark.  The stonemason who made this mark is registering the stone as his work because, in those days as in these, many workmen, masons included, were paid piece work - that is, by what they produced.