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

found linearly grouped along a steep escarpment (Fig. 77). It is
important that these ritual sites again overlook the Eisacktal and
moreover are intervisible with the ceremonial centre at Elvas. This can
not be coincidence ! The whole situation recalls the siting of rock art
sites at Millstone Burn and at Rothbury in England, where also linear
groups (Fig. 29) are intervisible with another group across the valley,
both marking an entrance through the hills.
Such a concentration of ritual sites proves that this part of the
Eisacktal was very important in prehistoric times. The distribution of
rock art sites in this area strongly contrasts with the complete
absence of rock art in the region of the Dolomites, just east of the
Eisacktal (Fig. 76). Most “entrances” leading from the Eisacktal to the
Dolomites consist of narrow gorges. The only accessible valley is
further north and it is there, in the Pustertal, that one again finds
cupmarked rocks, but only in the valleys leading north; not in the
valleys leading south to the Dolomites. The impressive mountain peaks
of the Dolomites clearly never have been the focus of rock art, despite
many traces of Neolithic occupation in that area. Clearly, rock art
focussed on the through routes; literally and metaphorically !
The importance of this part of the valley moreover is confirmed by a
large boulder on the east bank of the river Eisack with more than 60
cupules (No. 9 in Fig. 77). This is a very unusual position for a
decorated rock in this area and it may indicate the existence of a
prehistoric path between Elvas and Tschötsch which possibly crossed
the river Eisack at this spot. The rock might be slightly displaced,
being undercut by the river, but the block is so large that it most
likely is in its original position. From the boulder one has a fine view to
the east across a flat area, suitable for settlement, towards the
decorated rocks at Elvas, higher up the hill slopes.
No doubt there once were
many more decorated rocks in
the area around Brixen. Some
will have been destroyed,
others have been quarried.
Some are still visible in
various buildings. Most
important in this respect are
the mediaeval cloisters
(around 1200 AD) in the town
of Brixen itself. Several of
the lintels between the pillars
clearly show cupules of
FIGURE 82: BRIXEN.
different sizes. A large
number of the cupules definitely are prehistoric (Fig. 82) and obviously
the lintels have been quarried locally. For instance, Rock 6 at Elvas may
M. van HOEK: 106
GEOGRAPHY