Replica of prehistoric Cochno Stone set to be placed near to original in Faifley 

AN ANCIENT piece of prehistoric art in Clydebank is the subject of a parliamentary motion by the town's Member of the Scottish Parliament.  

On Monday September 19, Gil Paterson MSP visited the Cochno Stone and met leading archaeologist Dr. Kenny Brophy of the University of Glasgow.  

Dr Brophy and his team have been busy studying the Bronze Age sandstone slab's cup and ring marks it bears just north of Faifley in order to build a replica nearby.  

The ancient petroglyphs are said to be some of the finest examples in Europe.  

Mr Paterson has submitted a motion to the Scottish Parliament to give parliamentary recognition to the "magnificent" work done on the stone. 

The Cochno Stone was covered up a day later to protect the stone from further vandalism and damage by being exposed to the elements. Archaeologists had unearthed it to carry out a digital scan in order to construct a replica. The remake will be cast in a concrete-based synthetic material and be a 1:1 copy, and alongside it a memorial for the late David Marks, the former landowner who historically helped facilitate much of the research on the stone.  

Mr Paterson said: “The Cochno Stone is a magnificent example of ancient art, and it’s right here in Faifley on our very doorstep.  It’s mesmerising to get up close to these 6,000-year-old petroglyphs and wonder what past residents of the constituency may have been trying to say.   

“I would like to praise the work done by Dr Brophy and the team which has been working up at the Cochno Stone, as they work on producing an exact 1:1 size replica.   

"I was very glad to hear the dedicated but sadly late David Marks who owned the land part of the stone is on is going to be recognised with a memorial for his historic commitment and enthusiasm for projects with the stone. 
"I am delighted to announce I have submitted a motion to the Scottish Parliament to commend the magnificent work done by Dr Brophy and his team at the Cochno Stone." 

Doctor Brophy said: "It was a real pleasure to be able to show Gil Paterson the surface of the Cochno Stone, something I know he wanted to see for many years. It is really important to me that politicians take an interest in heritage matters, and Mr Paterson not only has a passion for heritage in his constituency, but also sees how it could benefit his constituents in the future."