a book

Creswell Crags 12

Rhiannon Mar 21, 2009 09:37:58

Don't know if anyone's seen this - I'm not sure if it's been mentioned before so I thought I'd mention it. I stumbled across it in the library so am reading it this morning. It's called "Palaeolithic Cave Art at Creswell Crags in European Context" by Pettitt, Bahn and Ripoll - the team that found the engravings.

I've just been reading the first article, in which Bahn explains the dubious nature of the previously found art there
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/55173/miscellaneous/creswell_crags.html
and how it's pretty ironic that that's what led them to find the apparent Real Deal.

I think I'd like to go (one day) - what is the latest on the tours they were doing there?

Chris Collyer Mar 21, 2009 11:00:51

Replying to Rhiannon

The tour info from the website says this-

Site Tours

Ice Age Tours

February - October: Every weekend and daily during most school holidays.
November - January: Sundays only.
Discover what Creswell Crags was like during the last Ice Age on a tour of Robin Hood Cave, the largest cave on site. Find out who was here, what was here, why they were here and how we know.
Booking recommended.
Tour charges: Adult £4.75, Concession £4.25, Child £3.00, Family offer - £2.00 off the price of an adult ticket when accompanied by 2 or more children.

Rock Art Tours

March - September: Every day that Ice Age Tours run.
Your chance to see the only known Ice Age rock art in Britain. The tour will start with a brief talk about the art and the site and then you will be taken to Church Hole Cave, home of the world famous art.
Booking essential.
Tour charges: Adult £6.00, Concession £5.50, Child £3.00, Family offer - £2.00 off the price of an adult ticket when accompanied by 2 or more children.

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It's well worth a visit, read baza's fieldnotes - they're spot on in summing up the feeling of seeing the carvings close up. My favourite was a small bison-like figure that's just a couple of inches above you but really difficult to photograph, the bird is amazing too and a bit easier to capture. You find yourself staring at them in an open mouthed gurning chump kind of way.
Last time I was there was about a year and a half ago and the on-site sewage farm (I kid you not) was gone and the main road through the site had been dug up and replaced with a track, they've been spending a lot of money to try and get some kind of international status recognition I think.

-Chris

Stoneshifter Mar 22, 2009 06:23:02

Replying to Rhiannon

I wouldn't mind faking some Rock Art, if I had the time, but, until then, here's a link to some theory about the art instinct and human development ( http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/mar/08/art-instinct-brian-morton-review ). It seems as though art has survived because it has an evolutionary purpose - not mapping herds of mammoth but making the artist more attractive to a potential mate. (!)

juamei Mar 22, 2009 18:39:25

Replying to Rhiannon

It's well worth going if you are in the area. Try and go on a weekday morning a few weeks into the summer holidays. I went on a tour designed for 20 with only 4 others and the guide. That meant we could all go in and see the rock art at once so had much longer perusing it (normally you have to wait outside the cave whilst others have a look due to lack of space).

Alternatively contact UBSS (Bristol Uni Spelealogical Society) about visiting Aveline's Hole onthe mendips as they've found some there...