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

More documents

Recommendations

Info

especially dealing with the distribution of cup-and-ring symbols across Europe (Bradley 1997; Van Hoek 1997a) failed to include an analysis of the Scandinavian situation. There are several reasons for this omission. First of all, the cup-andring motif in Scandinavia is very rare in absolute terms. The whole of Europe probably has some 10.000 cup-and-rings of which only roughly 250 examples are found in Scandinavia (see the Appendix 6 for statistics of the Scandinavian cup-and-ring motifs considered in this survey). Especially compared with the British Isles, cup-and-rings are poorly represented in Scandinavia, and this discrepancy increases even more when the number of ringmarks around a cupule is taken into account (Fig. 123). Scandinavia therefore forms no true cup-and-ring region like Galicia or the British Isles and is better compared with the Alpine region; besides cupules, iconic engravings predominate in both the Alps and Scandinavia. The exact number of iconic motifs in the Scandinavian study area (Fig. 91) is unknown, but certainly it will total several thousands. The situation in Bohuslän, Sweden, illustrates the statistical anomaly of the cup-and-ring motif quite clearly. In that “small” area there are approximately probably more than 30.000 cupules, 15.000 iconic FIG. 89: STÖLE. figures (Coles 1990: 15) but only 85 cup-and-rings, which is only 2 ‰ of the estimated grand total. This permillage will be much lower when the whole of the study area is taken into account. The possible significance of the cup-and-ring is therefore easily “overruled” by the overwhelming attention which iconic figures receive in studies about Scandinavian rock art. Consequently, specific information about cupand-rings is not readily available. Moreover, only regional studies exist. Therefore, information about cup-and-ring motifs, if available, is scattered and has to be derived from many several sources. Also, the Scandinavian cup-and-rings are rather simple of character; complex cup-and-rings (Fig. 89) are rare; most examples comprise only one or two concentric rings (more than three quarters (78,14 %) of the Scandinavian examples consist of cupules with one or two ringmarks) M. van HOEK: 112 GEOGRAPHY
and are therefore easily incorporated into other (later ?) designs. The more conspicuous cupules with five or more rings are very rare; only 8 examples are known, against at least 219 in the British Isles (Fig. 123). The greatest number of concentric rings around a cupule in Scandinavia is eight (once reported at Flote, Norway: Fig. 147.A), whereas the biggest number in Europe is eighteen, found at the big outcrop of Monte Teton (Fig. 44) in the south of Galicia, Spain. However, two sets, with respectively nine and ten rings, apparently without a central cupule, have been reported from Hjulatorp, Sweden. Surprisingly Hemtun (1998) gives an illustration where one of the sets features a central cupule after all, whereas an earlier photograph (Hasselroth & Ohlmarks 1966: 230) does not show this central cupule (Fig. 90). It is also most uncertain, whether these much weathered engravings on outcrop rock belong to the cup-and-ring tradition; they are located far inland, rather distant from the cup-and-ring area in south Sweden (for location see Fig. 91). In relative terms a similar picture emerges. The pie-charts in Fig. 91 again clearly indicate the simple character of the Scandinavian cupand-ring, but also indicate that the same situation occurs elsewhere in Europe. Only in Galicia there are relatively more complex cup-and-ring motifs. Last but not least, in most cases the cup-and-ring motif in Scandinavia is found associated with iconic symbols from the Bronze Age; either as separate motifs on the same rock panel bearing iconic figures, but often also as a part of such iconic figures, like at Vitlycke, Sweden (Fig. 90). Consequently one ignores too easily the possibility that FIGURE 90: VITLYCKE. the cup-and-ring originally was an individual symbol, predating the Nordic Bronze Age rock art tradition. As a result the cup-and-ring motif did not get special attention. This survey will hopefully change this. * 1.5.1 DATING SCANDINAVIAN CUPULES * Also the Scandinavian cup-and-ring is definitely associated with the cupule. But what is the dating of these Scandinavian cupules ? In general cupules are notoriously difficult to date. Usually, but not necessarily, they are very old. This historic priority may have a reason, and especially the coastal location of many cupule sites (Coles 1990: 43; Van Hoek 1997a: 5) may offer a plausible explanation. M. van HOEK: 113 GEOGRAPHY
Page 1:
The World of Petroglyphs CD Special
Page 4 and 5:
Impressum: Stonewatch Society for c
Page 7 and 8:
M. van HOEK: GEOGRAPHY INDEX PART 1
Page 9 and 10:
lifetime job. For instance, it took
Page 11 and 12:
* 1.1.2 THE LIMITS OF THE SUBJECT *
Page 13 and 14:
geomorphologic characteristics of t
Page 15 and 16:
The Irish island has three major op
Page 17 and 18:
� CHAPTER 1.2.1 � THE KILMARTIN
Page 19 and 20:
It is certain that, also in the Kil
Page 21 and 22:
possible site of menhir 8 are surro
Page 23 and 24:
interfered with their observations.
Page 25 and 26:
* 1.2.1.2 PETROGLYPHS AND INTERVISI
Page 27 and 28:
* 1.2.1.2.1.1 The west route initia
Page 29 and 30:
and the possible landing site. View
Page 31 and 32:
photo photo photo FIG. 14: THE EAST
Page 33 and 34:
Achnabreck is a complex of nine wid
Page 35 and 36:
standing stone in Fig. 6) and for t
Page 37 and 38:
The situation in the study area dif
Page 39 and 40:
art sites in the study area (and el
Page 41 and 42:
major route through the interior, a
Page 43 and 44:
* 1.2.2.1.3 Still further east anot
Page 45 and 46:
the rock art groups as their ritual
Page 47 and 48:
elatively level land. These groups
Page 49 and 50:
top of a protruding rock shelter. I
Page 51 and 52:
map map map map map FIG. 26b: BRADL
Page 53 and 54:
impossible that these two sites eve
Page 55 and 56:
* 1.2.3.2.5 The group north of Roth
Page 57 and 58:
illus FIGURE 32: VIEWS FROM THE CHA
Page 59 and 60:
not mean that this has been intende
Page 61 and 62:
concentrations of stone circles and
Page 63 and 64:
my study area. Their distribution m
Page 65 and 66:
on the coast opposite Muros peninsu
Page 67 and 68: illus FIGURE 39: PETROGLYPH SITES A
Page 69 and 70: FIG.42: SANTA TECLA, CASTRO. instan
Page 71 and 72: small bit of the Taxes valley (mark
Page 73 and 74: Moreover, from whatever direction t
Page 75 and 76: argue that all these sites command
Page 77 and 78: One petroglyph outcrop stone is eve
Page 79 and 80: � CHAPTER 1.3.2 � GARGAMALA, A
Page 81 and 82: FIGURE 52: VISIBILITY FROM THE SITE
Page 83 and 84: encircle the ridge. Also the distri
Page 85 and 86: idge, centring on sites 3 and 4. Wh
Page 87 and 88: APPENDIX 1 AN INVENTORY OF THE ROCK
Page 89 and 90: Group 7C. Described by COSTAS GOBER
Page 91 and 92: and is approximately 1 to 0.5 cm de
Page 93 and 94: � CHAPTER 1.4 � THE ALPS, THE B
Page 95 and 96: * 1.4.1.1.1 There indeed prove to b
Page 97 and 98: * 1.4.1.1.2 Although the Alps are r
Page 99 and 100: FIG. 63: PART OF COREN DE LE FATE,
Page 101 and 102: floodplain of the valley of the Upp
Page 103 and 104: This rock also features a small cup
Page 105 and 106: idge called Crete des Barmes, only
Page 108 and 109: � CHAPTER 1.4.2 � ELVAS AND SPR
Page 110 and 111: photo photo photo photo FIG. 77: TH
Page 112 and 113: found linearly grouped along a stee
Page 114 and 115: undertaken (Figs 84 and 85). The tr
Page 116 and 117: FIGURE 87: SPRONS 2. The lack of ro
Page 120 and 121: In many rock art regions there seem
Page 122 and 123: occur in a vast area. Many cupules
Page 124 and 125: � CHAPTER 1.5.1 � DISTRIBUTION
Page 126 and 127: icecap first caused the land to sin
Page 128 and 129: the study area, especially in Swede
Page 132 and 133: illus. illus. FIG. 97: ROCK ART DIS
Page 134 and 135: islands in bays or in lake systems
Page 138 and 139: * 1.5.3.1.1 It is remarkable that r
Page 140 and 141: * 1.5.3.2.2 Probably the youngest r
Page 142 and 143: * 1.5.3.2.4.1 Almost every part of
Page 144 and 145: claiming the rock art at Helgaberg/
Page 146 and 147: This notch is also the first natura
Page 148 and 149: Another cupuled stone has been repo
Page 150 and 151: Swedish distribution moreover echoe
Page 152 and 153: APPENDIX 2. Spreadsheet summarising
Page 154 and 155: APPENDIX 4. A HORDALAND (Area 2) 37
Page 156 and 157: APPENDIX 6 There is always a proble
Page 159 and 160: � CHAPTER 2.1 � DISTRIBUTION OF
Page 161 and 162: centripetal pull. Not only impressi
Page 163 and 164: * 2.1.1 THE ALPINE SITUATION * We a
Page 165 and 166: * 2.1.2 THE BRITISH ISLES * Contrar
Page 167 and 168: FIGURE 129. BALLOCHMYLE. THIS IS A
Page 169 and 170:
* 2.1.3 GALICIA * Unfortunately, th
Page 171 and 172:
The distribution in south Sweden is
Page 173 and 174:
� CHAPTER 2.2 � INSTANCES OF
Page 175 and 176:
G stops at motif D. This proves tha
Page 177 and 178:
example occurs at Gargamala 7J, Gal
Page 179 and 180:
“....but 3 is special. It is one
Page 181 and 182:
ILLUS FIGURE 140: ROCK ART ON TOP O
Page 183 and 184:
* 2.2.1.1.3 GREENLAND * Unfortunate
Page 185 and 186:
In my opinion, the Greenland raft o
Page 187 and 188:
FOSSUM VITLYCKE HERREBRO LÖKEBERG
Page 189 and 190:
on the same panel as the boat figur
Page 191 and 192:
Equally, cup-and-rings sometimes ha
Page 193 and 194:
Could this be an indication of a ma
Page 195 and 196:
Such human figures have been labell
Page 197 and 198:
earlier rosette figures and the cup
Page 199 and 200:
FIGURE 155: FINNTORP, PHASES OF ENG
Page 201 and 202:
solar symbolism as well. Later in t
Page 203 and 204:
� CHAPTER 2.2.4 � GALICIA: THE
Page 205 and 206:
animals, probably because of lack o
Page 207 and 208:
The fact that this is not the case,
Page 209 and 210:
FIGURE 161: OS CARBALLOS. M. van HO
Page 211 and 212:
� SCANDINAVIAN SOLAR ANIMALS �
Page 213 and 214:
of the two smaller animals at Lombo
Page 215 and 216:
For the rest, combinations of cup-a
Page 217 and 218:
place in rather peaceful cultures,
Page 219 and 220:
A B� FIG. 174: A: RI CRUIN CIST;
Page 221 and 222:
If indeed this engraving is a true
Page 223 and 224:
other sites known to depict weaponr
Page 225 and 226:
Illapel and La Silla belong to the
Page 227 and 228:
* 3.1.3 COMPLEX MOTIFS * From the a
Page 229 and 230:
� 3.2 THE CUP-AND-RING IN EUROPE
Page 231 and 232:
The best way to achieve and maintai
Page 233 and 234:
executed. This may explain why the
Page 235 and 236:
and it seems that cup-and-ring site
Page 237 and 238:
* 3.2.3 ENTRANCES TO THE SPIRIT WOR
Page 239 and 240:
suggested that cupules symbolise th
Page 241 and 242:
* 3.2.5 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CUPULES
Page 243 and 244:
These migrations and explorations c
Page 245 and 246:
andomly placed on the rocks, were e
Page 247 and 248:
Later in the Neolithic more revolut
Page 249 and 250:
The section below serves to acknowl
Page 251 and 252:
14. BEDNARIK, R. G. 1996. Early roc
Page 253 and 254:
39. COSTAS GOBERNA, F. J., NOVOA Á
Page 255 and 256:
63. MARK, R. & NEWMAN, E. 1995. Cup
Page 257 and 258:
88. PETTERSSON, J. & G. KRISTIANSSO
Page 259 and 260:
113. VAN HOEK, M. 1988b. Possible
Page 261:
137. VAN HOEK, M. & SMITH, C. 1988.
show all

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

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?