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

� CHAPTER 2.1 �
DISTRIBUTION OF COMPLEX ART
� INTRODUCTION �
The most simple petroglyph, the cupule, is also the most intriguing
symbol. It may have had several meanings and therefore its
interpretation is difficult or even impossible. Also its wide distribution
makes it rather intangible. It hardly is suitable as a “guide-fossil” to
explain patterns of rock art distribution. For that purpose we
preferably need short-lived motifs that have a limited distribution.
The problem with cup-and-ring art is that there still is no absolute
dating for its elements. Is the cupule older than the cup-and-ring ? Is
a central cupule older than its surrounding ring ? Are complex cup-andrings
younger than simple examples ? All these questions are crucial in
the understanding of cup-and-ring art and the answers are necessary to
explain the distribution patterns across Europe. Absolute dating of
European cup-and-ring sites and its composing elements proves to be an
absolute must and is therefore strongly
recommended as an important subject for
future research.
For the time being I will depart from the
personal view that the cupule was the first
element to be introduced in the cup-andring
tradition of western Europe. In my
opinion this happened rather early, notably
during the end of the Mesolithic or the
beginning of the Neolithic. Soon (but how
“soon” ?) after that, the ringmark was
introduced. In the cup-and-ring art of
Europe, cupules with single ring (Fig. 119)
clearly predominate. This suggests strong
historical priority for the cupule with one
FIG. 119: WHITEHILL, SCOTLAND.
ring. Although ringmarks are firmly associated with cupules, it is still
highly probable that the ringmark as a rock art symbol was introduced
later by a people different to the cupule carvers.
The introduction of the ringmark possibly coincides with the arrival of
megalithic tombs in the Atlantic region. In this respect it is significant
that in 1998 a discovery was made of a megalithic tomb near Sligo in
western Ireland, which proved to be at least 700 years older than the
oldest megalithic structure in western Europe. This tomb possibly
M. van HOEK: 153 GEOGRAPHY