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

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north of Ireland, is found on the coast opposite Argyll. Donegal has 15 petroglyphic menhirs out of approximately an original number of 300. There is, however, only one petroglyph site, Beltany stone circle, where lines are said to indicate astronomical events (Burl 1987). One line runs from the tallest kerbstone (No. 1) through cupmarked stone 39 and is said to be aligned on the sunrise on the first of May, which was a most important day for prehistoric people. In the Celtic language this day is still called “La Bealtaine”, after the Celtic god of life and death, Bel’tené. It is remarkable that also the hill is called after this ancient deity. FIGURE 5: BELTANY STONE CIRCLE. However, another line through the centre of the circle and an undecorated outlying menhir seemed to indicate the important Mid Winter Sunrise. When checking this alignment I discovered cupules on two stones (No’s 24 and 53) that proved to be exactly in line with the menhir (Fig. 5) thus confirming the possible solar line (Van Hoek 1988: 25). It proves that astronomical lines indeed are occasionally associated with petroglyphs. * 1.2.1.1.1 It is now striking that in particular the west part of Scotland proves to be very rich in menhirs associated with lunar or solar alignments. Especially (in and) around the study area we find a large number of prehistoric lunar and solar observatories. Well known are Kintraw, Ballochroy, Ballinaby and Loch Seil (Thom 1967), although none of these complexes incorporates decorated stones. Only at Brainport, just SE of the Kilmartin study area, we find a possible solar observatory (Fane Gladwin 1978) close to two cupmarked outcrops very near the shore of Loch Fyne, but the relation of the rock art with the observatory is uncertain. The cupules probably are much older than the observatory and may mark an ancient landing place. The biggest concentration of decorated menhirs, however, is found in the Kilmartin valley. In this small area are reported about at least 30 standing stones, some fallen or destroyed, and one stone circle with 15 uprights remaining. Eight standing stones and three circle stones bear decoration, varying from one simple cupmark to a very elaborate triple spiral (Fig. 11). M. van HOEK: 12 GEOGRAPHY
It is certain that, also in the Kilmartin valley, astronomy has been an important part of prehistoric cultures. But even to date such impressive events can be witnessed. On the 18th of July 1989 exceptionally clear skies enabled me to observe an intriguing full moon rise from some megalithic monuments in the valley. Whether this particular event has also been observed by prehistoric people is not known. However, it proved that several astronomical lines are associated with petroglyphic stones and this brings us to one of the key questions of this chapter. Were petroglyphic outcrops selected and quarried because their decoration was regarded to be of vital importance for the alignment, or were petroglyphs added to the menhirs to enhance the astronomical significance of the site ? Is there, no matter how, any premeditated relation between the petroglyphs and the possible astronomical alignments indicated by these megaliths or is it just a coincidence that decoration appears on such menhirs ? The main problem is whether petroglyphs and menhirs are contemporary. The answers lie in the silent language of the stones which provides a glimpse into the prehistoric mind. * 1.2.1.1.2 The study area features several clusters of impressive menhirs. Remarkably, most menhirs (26 out of 30) are found on the eastern fringes of the valley and these seem to indicate a late Neolithic or early Bronze Age route to the monuments in the north part of the valley. An isolated group is found at Torbhlaran in the valley of the river Add. Two menhirs, the western one unfortunately destroyed (Morris 1977: 122), were set up near three decorated outcrops on the valley floor. The remaining menhir (Fig. 6) is engraved with cupules on both sides, some rather small (Van Hoek 1990: 48), and at really low level. Some cups are even situated below ground level. The flat faces of the stone are aligned to the SW and NE, but there could not be established a definite astronomical line here, also because the exact position of the missing stone is unknown. Perhaps the FIG. 6: TORBHLARAN decorated outcrops formed a rationale for the prehistoric people to erect their menhirs at this spot, but it can never be established at what level. * 1.2.1.1.3 Further SW are the seven standing stones of Dunamuck. Three separate groups form a rough line of about 600 m forming a kind of avenue leading up to Dunadd. Only one of these M. van HOEK: 13 GEOGRAPHY
Page 1: The World of Petroglyphs CD Special
Page 4 and 5: Impressum: Stonewatch Society for c
Page 7 and 8: M. van HOEK: GEOGRAPHY INDEX PART 1
Page 9 and 10: lifetime job. For instance, it took
Page 11 and 12: * 1.1.2 THE LIMITS OF THE SUBJECT *
Page 13 and 14: geomorphologic characteristics of t
Page 15 and 16: The Irish island has three major op
Page 17: � CHAPTER 1.2.1 � THE KILMARTIN
Page 21 and 22: possible site of menhir 8 are surro
Page 23 and 24: interfered with their observations.
Page 25 and 26: * 1.2.1.2 PETROGLYPHS AND INTERVISI
Page 27 and 28: * 1.2.1.2.1.1 The west route initia
Page 29 and 30: and the possible landing site. View
Page 31 and 32: photo photo photo FIG. 14: THE EAST
Page 33 and 34: Achnabreck is a complex of nine wid
Page 35 and 36: standing stone in Fig. 6) and for t
Page 37 and 38: The situation in the study area dif
Page 39 and 40: art sites in the study area (and el
Page 41 and 42: major route through the interior, a
Page 43 and 44: * 1.2.2.1.3 Still further east anot
Page 45 and 46: the rock art groups as their ritual
Page 47 and 48: elatively level land. These groups
Page 49 and 50: top of a protruding rock shelter. I
Page 51 and 52: map map map map map FIG. 26b: BRADL
Page 53 and 54: impossible that these two sites eve
Page 55 and 56: * 1.2.3.2.5 The group north of Roth
Page 57 and 58: illus FIGURE 32: VIEWS FROM THE CHA
Page 59 and 60: not mean that this has been intende
Page 61 and 62: concentrations of stone circles and
Page 63 and 64: my study area. Their distribution m
Page 65 and 66: on the coast opposite Muros peninsu
Page 67 and 68: illus FIGURE 39: PETROGLYPH SITES A
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FIG.42: SANTA TECLA, CASTRO. instan
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small bit of the Taxes valley (mark
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Moreover, from whatever direction t
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argue that all these sites command
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One petroglyph outcrop stone is eve
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� CHAPTER 1.3.2 � GARGAMALA, A
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FIGURE 52: VISIBILITY FROM THE SITE
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encircle the ridge. Also the distri
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idge, centring on sites 3 and 4. Wh
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APPENDIX 1 AN INVENTORY OF THE ROCK
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Group 7C. Described by COSTAS GOBER
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and is approximately 1 to 0.5 cm de
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� CHAPTER 1.4 � THE ALPS, THE B
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* 1.4.1.1.1 There indeed prove to b
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* 1.4.1.1.2 Although the Alps are r
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FIG. 63: PART OF COREN DE LE FATE,
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floodplain of the valley of the Upp
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This rock also features a small cup
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idge called Crete des Barmes, only
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� CHAPTER 1.4.2 � ELVAS AND SPR
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photo photo photo photo FIG. 77: TH
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found linearly grouped along a stee
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undertaken (Figs 84 and 85). The tr
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FIGURE 87: SPRONS 2. The lack of ro
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especially dealing with the distrib
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In many rock art regions there seem
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occur in a vast area. Many cupules
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� CHAPTER 1.5.1 � DISTRIBUTION
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icecap first caused the land to sin
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the study area, especially in Swede
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Page 132 and 133:
illus. illus. FIG. 97: ROCK ART DIS
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islands in bays or in lake systems
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* 1.5.3.1.1 It is remarkable that r
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* 1.5.3.2.2 Probably the youngest r
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* 1.5.3.2.4.1 Almost every part of
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claiming the rock art at Helgaberg/
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This notch is also the first natura
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Another cupuled stone has been repo
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Swedish distribution moreover echoe
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APPENDIX 2. Spreadsheet summarising
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APPENDIX 4. A HORDALAND (Area 2) 37
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APPENDIX 6 There is always a proble
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� CHAPTER 2.1 � DISTRIBUTION OF
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centripetal pull. Not only impressi
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* 2.1.1 THE ALPINE SITUATION * We a
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* 2.1.2 THE BRITISH ISLES * Contrar
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FIGURE 129. BALLOCHMYLE. THIS IS A
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* 2.1.3 GALICIA * Unfortunately, th
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The distribution in south Sweden is
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� CHAPTER 2.2 � INSTANCES OF
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G stops at motif D. This proves tha
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example occurs at Gargamala 7J, Gal
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“....but 3 is special. It is one
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ILLUS FIGURE 140: ROCK ART ON TOP O
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* 2.2.1.1.3 GREENLAND * Unfortunate
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In my opinion, the Greenland raft o
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FOSSUM VITLYCKE HERREBRO LÖKEBERG
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on the same panel as the boat figur
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Equally, cup-and-rings sometimes ha
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Could this be an indication of a ma
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Such human figures have been labell
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earlier rosette figures and the cup
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FIGURE 155: FINNTORP, PHASES OF ENG
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solar symbolism as well. Later in t
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� CHAPTER 2.2.4 � GALICIA: THE
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animals, probably because of lack o
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The fact that this is not the case,
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FIGURE 161: OS CARBALLOS. M. van HO
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� SCANDINAVIAN SOLAR ANIMALS �
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of the two smaller animals at Lombo
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For the rest, combinations of cup-a
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place in rather peaceful cultures,
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A B� FIG. 174: A: RI CRUIN CIST;
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If indeed this engraving is a true
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other sites known to depict weaponr
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Illapel and La Silla belong to the
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* 3.1.3 COMPLEX MOTIFS * From the a
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� 3.2 THE CUP-AND-RING IN EUROPE
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The best way to achieve and maintai
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executed. This may explain why the
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and it seems that cup-and-ring site
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* 3.2.3 ENTRANCES TO THE SPIRIT WOR
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suggested that cupules symbolise th
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* 3.2.5 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CUPULES
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These migrations and explorations c
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andomly placed on the rocks, were e
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Later in the Neolithic more revolut
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The section below serves to acknowl
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14. BEDNARIK, R. G. 1996. Early roc
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39. COSTAS GOBERNA, F. J., NOVOA Á
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63. MARK, R. & NEWMAN, E. 1995. Cup
Page 257 and 258:
88. PETTERSSON, J. & G. KRISTIANSSO
Page 259 and 260:
113. VAN HOEK, M. 1988b. Possible
Page 261:
137. VAN HOEK, M. & SMITH, C. 1988.
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Maarten van Hoek The Geography of Cup-and-Ring ... - StoneWatch

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