Cup and Ring Marks
This maybe an “old chestnut” on here but I’m new and would be interested to hear reasonably sensible ideas to their use or possible meaning. I’m interested in the cup and ring marks mainly found in the East of the UK. I have my own ideas, which I’m happy to discuss or modify, but am particularly interested in leather workers, herders, woodworkers, cloth makers/dyers and anyone who has hands on expertise of any other trade that could be relevant. I have questions.
When were they actually made? First recorded? any real dating evidence? and if any have been found in an archeological context ie under a later dated bank?
What would the areas be used for in the time they were made? grazing? Copicing? Pottery? Mineral extraction? Cloth making/dyeing? Border/buffer zone? Living?
Is there any possibility that they have an actual practical use or are they purely art?
If anyone has any input based on working knowledge or actual science I welcome the discussion. One thing I have noticed that all the ones I’ve visited (that aren’t in modern plantations) is that they are at places you would sit a while, by that I mean nice views, water source within view, fairly sheltered, a place you might have a picnic or ancient equivalent, or break a journey. That is my first impression of most of these places, if they were on a modern motoring map they would be marked as viewpoints, those lay-bys where you can park up and take a rest with a lovely view, maybe stay the night if you’re a roamer.
I feel that by using tradespeople’s knowledge combined with archeology and (actual) science we can combine to come up with interesting theories about ancient sites. Ask an archaeologist how a barrow was made he will give you an answer, give 6 builders a few simple tools and some food and ale and they will give you a barrow.
Hi Jon
Professor George Nash has published a whole lot of research on this topic focused especially on Wales and is expert in the field. Two good links are:
rockartscandinavia.com/images/articles/a19nash.pdf
bradshawfoundation.com/british_isles_prehistory_archive/cups_cairns/index.php
Thanks. I did use Bradshaw Foundation site at one time. I’m more interested in ordinary folk who do some of the trades that would have been around in prehistory and might have inside knowledge, like those Scottish carved stone balls, folk have ventured ideas about net making, wool production etc because they can look at something and apply it to their own field of expertise. I will have a look at that other site too.
Hi Jon,
That's the question that generations have pondered upon since it was first discovered. I think Ronald Morris compiled a list of over 100 theories. Of course, the only honest answer is that we don't know what they mean and probably never really will.
Richard Bradley's book 'Rock Art and the Prehistory of Atlantic Europe - Signing the Land' is well worth a read.
My own thoughts after decades of hunting out rock art, based on my own observations are that they are mostly situated in areas with wide ranging views. Perhaps they denote the separation of sacred space from the everyday. Many seem to be sited close to water sources (Woofa Bank on Ilkley Moor is a drystone enclosure containing several rock art panels, sited between two spring-heads), perhaps they symbolise stories attached to the landscape, such as deeds, people or similar to a dreamtime creation myth.
Of course, they may not have a single meaning and represent all of the above and more. I'd be really interested to see if panels of complex rock art were created in one go, or added to over generations. Personally, I've never thought of them as maps, but what do I know. Maybe they represent features of the landscape beyond the topographical.