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

The second axis includes a
more scattered group around
the Rio Miño and its
tributaries. Here we find
important sites at Monte
Faro and Podame in Portugal
and Monte Teton (Fig. 44),
O Gorguillon (Fig. 185) and
Gargamala (Figs 120 and
132) in Galicia (Fig. 130).
This area also features
examples with more than ten
rings, reaching the maximum
FIGURE 132: GARGAMALA 6.
number for Europe of 18
rings at Monte Teton (Fig. 45). Monte Teton IV is located at a spot
offering extensive views across an important pass from the wide valley
of the river Miño to the valley of the Rio Miñor further north. Because
of its complex art, this scattered southern group may be younger than
the northern group.
Contrary to the British Isles, the distribution of cupules with five or
more rings in Galicia does not seem to be based on the search for
through routes, but rather indicates the major direction of the
exploration of the interior, following the river valleys of the Lerez and
the Miño. Still it is remarkable that also in Galicia complex art seems
to have been concentrated in the valleys of the major river systems
and their estuaries.
* 2.1.4 SCANDINAVIA *
Although Scandinavia only has eight cupules with five or more rings
(Fig. 123), it is remarkable to see how concentrated they are. Apart
from one example at Bjuggsta north of Lake Mälar (Fig. 91), all other
examples are found in the Hordaland Region on the west coast of
Norway (Fig. 101). Only one example occurs at Bakke (Fig. 102), and
all others are found in the Etne District, where only three sites, Fitja,
Flote and Vinje comprise cupules with up to eight rings.
The number of Norwegian cupules with five or more rings is too low to
base any firm conclusions upon, but their concentration at a point on
the west coast of Norway and opposite Scotland may be significant.
This clustering near Etne possibly indicates a relation between these
two areas at some time. The distribution pattern on the west coast of
Norway resembles the situation in Galicia, but also that of Kerry in
Ireland. These rock art groups indicate the major axis of movement,
whereas the siting on micro level points more to the creation of
ceremonial centres, like Flote.
M. van HOEK: 164 GEOGRAPHY