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

* 1.5.3.2.4.1 Almost every part of this large outcrop has been
carved (Fig. 107, inset); even the steep NE slope features a few
cupules, not noted previously. Only the steep SE face of the rock is too
rough to be suitable for engraving. Fig. 107 gives an impression of the
major part of the engravings, showing the remarkable group of deep
cupules on an almost horizontal part of the rock, and a surprising
variety of other motifs such as ringmarks, ovals, cup-and-rings, crosses
and “star” motifs on slightly sloping parts. There proved to be eight
cup-and-one-rings that were not reported previously, bringing the total
of cup-and-ring motifs to 27.
Especially the cupules at Stöle show characteristics much similar to
the typical Neolithic cup-and-ring sites of the British Isles. First of
all, the placement of the cupules at Stöle is distinctly random. They
also are much varied in diameter and depth and are rather crudely
executed. Some of the cupules have been joined by short but deep
grooves. Especially the group of deep cupules at Stöle resembles sites
like Ardifuir, Kilmichael Glassary and Glennan in Argyll, all situated
together with a large number of other rock art sites near landing
places or on major travelling routes from the Kilmartin valley in
Scotland (Chapter 1.2.1) through the interior (Van Hoek 1997: 8).
↓
FIG. 108: STÖLE; NOTE THE DIFFERENCES IN DEPTH.
The cup-and-rings at Stöle are also typical for the Neolithic cup-andring
style: especially the rings at the cup-and-one-ring motifs have the
appearance to have been added later. Also, ringmarks are less deeply
executed (Fig. 108) and become more closely packed when the number
M. van HOEK: 136
GEOGRAPHY