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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

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