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

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FIGURE 129.<br />

BALLOCHMYLE.<br />

THIS IS A MOST<br />

IMPRESSIVE SITE<br />

COMPRISING TWO<br />

VERTICAL<br />

SANDSTONE CLIFFS<br />

COVERED WITH MORE<br />

THAN 900 CUPULES,<br />

OF WHICH MORE<br />

THAN 220 EXAMPLES<br />

HAVE UP TO FIVE<br />

RINGS.<br />

THIS ENORMOUS<br />

CLIFF SITE<br />

OVERLOOKS A SMALL<br />

ARENA-LIKE AREA,<br />

WHILE ALL VIEWS<br />

ARE BLOCKED. THE<br />

SMALL NATURAL<br />

AMPHITHEATRE MAY<br />

HAVE SERVED AS A<br />

CEREMONIAL<br />

GATHERING PLACE.<br />

TO THE EAST IS THE<br />

DEEP GORGE OF THE<br />

RIVER AYRE.<br />

THIS SITE IS TRULY<br />

ISOLATED AND IS<br />

FOUND 17 KM<br />

INLAND.<br />

To conclude, it is also remarkable that the major sites in these isles<br />

(Ballochmyle in SW Scotl<strong>and</strong> (Fig. 129), Mevagh in north Donegal <strong>and</strong><br />

Boheh on the west coast <strong>of</strong> Irel<strong>and</strong>), do not feature cupules with six or<br />

more rings. This, <strong>and</strong> their relatively isolated locations, may not only<br />

indicate a chronological distinction, but also may express the need <strong>of</strong><br />

new regional focal points besides the ones already established much<br />

earlier on through routes. This may also point to a change in cultural<br />

conceptions. <strong>The</strong> same may also have happened in Sc<strong>and</strong>inavia <strong>and</strong><br />

Galicia (e.g. Gargamala).<br />

M. <strong>van</strong> HOEK: 161 GEOGRAPHY

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