Maarten van Hoek The Geography of Cup-and-Ring ... - StoneWatch

� CHAPTER 1.4.2 �
ELVAS AND SPRONS
TWO ALPINE CEREMONIAL CENTRES
* INTRODUCTION *
We have seen that the Alps are a true barrier, but that several routes
were used to traverse the mountains, also in prehistoric days. One of
the still most important routes starts
near Lago di Garda in Italy. From the
plains of the river Po, the valley of the
river Etsch connects with that of the
Eisack, which, in turn, leads up to the
Brenner Pass (Fig. 76); the lowest major
mountain pass in the Alps. Having
crossed the Brenner, one arrives in the
valley of the river Inn. Alternatively
map
one followed the Etsch up to the
Reschen Pass (R in Fig. 76) to connect
with the Inn at that point. Near these
routes we find the major rock art
groups of Elvas and Sprons (respectively
11 and 12 in Fig. 76), both of which no
doubt once will have been important
ceremonial centres. The differences
between these two ceremonial centres
are enormous, however.
This beautiful mountainous region
contains some of the oldest routes
FIG. 76: EASTERN ALPS.
through the Alpine region; the routes
via the Etsch and the Eisack. It will be no surprise that these
important routes were well protected in ancient times. Impressive
castles and fortifications, proudly overlooking the valleys from
elevated positions, are testimonies of troubled times, when travelling
was dangerous. Usually these castles were built on prominent rocky
outcrops and quite often occupy sites near cupmarked outcrops like
Reifenstein Castle near Sterzing in the north of the Eisacktal.
Long before the period of the mediaeval castles however, prehistoric
peoples also used these routes and consequently traces from the
Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age have been found in the area.
Although in no way comparable with the powerful castles along the
route, prehistoric people had their own ways of protecting themselves.
Not against each other; but travelling was equally dangerous and the
M. van HOEK: 102
GEOGRAPHY