Location
State: Estonia
Region: Juuru Parish
County: Rapla
Parish: Juuru
Other references to the location
Pirgu village. From the centre of the Lõiuse village follow the Lõiuse-Pirgu gravel road for 1,3 km to the West and North-West, 250 m to the North-East for 250 m, on the edge of the field in a bird cherry (Prunus padus) bush.
Coordinates
lat=59.126823931245, lon=24.865711298016
59° 7′ 36″ N, 24° 51′ 56″ E
Description
Grey, with pink speckles, 3,45 m long, 2,64 m wide, 0,9 m high. The North-Western part has been separated by a crack. 11 cup-marks in the Southern part, diameter 5-7 cm, depth 1-3 cm.
Narrative
Cup-marked stones have borne witness to the history of domesticated agriculture and settlement in Estonia. Approximately 1,750 cup-marked stones have been found in Estonia and they are mainly located in three counties in northern Estonia: Lääne-Viru, Ida-Viru and Harju. Historical Juuru parish in Harju County is particularly rich in cup-marked stones, with 30 cup-marked stones featured in this list. Cup-marked stones have small cup-marks with a diameter of 3-10 cm and a depth of 0.5-5 cm. A cup-marked stone usually has from 1-10 cup-marks. Nõiakivi (Witch’s stone) in Assaku near Tallinn has the most, with 405 cup-marks. Boulders of all sizes and appearances can be cup-marked stones. The smallest cup-marked stone found thus far could almost fit into a pocket. As a rule, the cup-marks have been carved on to the surface of the stone, and in some cases, on its side. No folklore is generally associated with cup-marked stones and they have been found solely according to their external characteristics, the cup-marks. No archaeological finds were made around cup-marked stones that could be associated with the making of the cup-marks or the use of the cup-marked stones. Scholars associate the making of the cup-marks on the stones with slash and burn agriculture and settlement in the late Iron Age. The cup-marks were probably made 2,000-3,000 years ago. The greatest share of the cup-marked stones is currently located on land under cultivation. The cup-marks could have a religious function, or some practical purpose unknown to us. The suppositions that the cup-marks are related to folk astronomy, a sun cult, honouring ancestors or sacrifices have not yet been proved. The development of research into the cup-marked stones is reflected by the changes in name for the phenomenon over the last century: In the early 20th century they were called ohvrikivid (sacrificial stones), during the Soviet period they were called cult stones, and from the late 20th century they were known as cup-marked stones. A few of the cup-marked stones were used for sacrifices as well. According to a few traditional sources, the cup-marks were made to remember the dead. The cup-marks were also rubbed with sheep’s wool and lanolin for good luck with sheep farming.
Attraction
Modest in regard to size and number of cup-marks.
Availability
250 m across a field.
Infrastructure, management, facilities
Parking for cars or bus by the side of the gravel road.
Local info
Marker for protected archaeological monument in Estonian
Capacity
0-9
Publicity
Known
Legal Status
Private land, heritage conservation
