Maarten van Hoek The Geography of Cup-and-Ring ... - StoneWatch
Maarten van Hoek The Geography of Cup-and-Ring ... - StoneWatch
Maarten van Hoek The Geography of Cup-and-Ring ... - StoneWatch
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� CHAPTER 1.5.4 �<br />
A FINAL DISCUSSION ON SCANDINAVIA<br />
* CONCLUSIONS *<br />
In the four preceding chapters I have considered the spread <strong>and</strong> the<br />
place <strong>of</strong> the cup-<strong>and</strong>-ring motif in Sc<strong>and</strong>inavian rock art. Behind the<br />
irregular distribution <strong>of</strong> the rather scarcely occurring cup-<strong>and</strong>-ring<br />
motif two distinctive conclusions st<strong>and</strong> out.<br />
Most important is that it has been established that there is a fair<br />
chance that at least a number <strong>of</strong> the cupules <strong>and</strong> cup-<strong>and</strong>-rings may<br />
belong to the cup-<strong>and</strong>-ring tradition <strong>of</strong> Neolithic Europe. One could<br />
therefore say that Sc<strong>and</strong>inavia most likely has both cup-<strong>and</strong>-ring<br />
motifs (elements <strong>of</strong> both the Neolithic <strong>and</strong> the Bronze Age rock art<br />
repertoires) as well as cup-<strong>and</strong>-ring symbols (belonging to the Neolithic<br />
cup-<strong>and</strong>-ring tradition).<br />
<strong>The</strong> distinction between the two, however, proves to be rather<br />
difficult, as Sc<strong>and</strong>inavian cup-<strong>and</strong>-rings<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten appear intermingled with or<br />
incorporated into typical Bronze Age<br />
engravings. Especially the “disc-men”,<br />
cup-<strong>and</strong>-rings or ringmarks incorporated<br />
into anthropomorphic figures (Fig. 116),<br />
form a distinct class <strong>of</strong> designs where<br />
possible Neolithic cup-<strong>and</strong>-rings have<br />
been adapted by Bronze Age peoples. It<br />
seems highly probable that many<br />
circular motifs <strong>of</strong> the Sc<strong>and</strong>inavian rock<br />
art repertoire, whether from the<br />
Neolithic or Bronze Age period, actually<br />
represent or has been interpreted as<br />
solar symbols. <strong>The</strong>se “disc-men” <strong>and</strong><br />
their interpretation will be fully<br />
FIG. 116: DISC-MEN.<br />
discussed in Chapter 2.2.3.<br />
<strong>The</strong> second major observation is that<br />
the great majority <strong>of</strong> the Sc<strong>and</strong>inavian<br />
cup-<strong>and</strong>-rings is distinctly sea-related.<br />
<strong>The</strong> dominant coastal position becomes<br />
even more distinct, when rock art sites<br />
VITLYCKE, BOHUSLÄN. are related to the prehistoric water<br />
level. <strong>The</strong> Sc<strong>and</strong>inavian distribution <strong>of</strong><br />
cup-<strong>and</strong>-rings also strongly reflects the general preference, noted<br />
elsewhere in Europe, to execute cupules <strong>and</strong> cup-<strong>and</strong>-rings near<br />
suitable <strong>and</strong> sheltered l<strong>and</strong>ing places along the Atlantic seaboard. <strong>The</strong><br />
M. <strong>van</strong> HOEK: 143<br />
GEOGRAPHY