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

� CHAPTER 2.2.3 �
HUMANS AND CUP-AND-RINGS
� INTRODUCTION �
We have already noticed that the post-glacial rock art of Scandinavia
is characterised by a wealth of iconic figures from the Bronze Age;
mainly boat engravings, human figures, weapons and animals. In
addition, many thousands of cupules are found scattered all over
Scandinavia, as well as a small number of cup-and-rings (about 250),
often integrated into typical Bronze Age designs.
In Chapter 2.2.2 we discussed the combination of boat engravings with
cup-and-rings, but in a restricted area of Scandinavia another
enigmatic category emerges; the so-called “disc-men”, comprising cupand-rings
that are actually incorporated into engravings of strange
human figures. This leads many people to assume that the iconic figures
and the cup-and-rings are contemporary and that both belong to the
Bronze Age rock art repertoire. Yet, it is possible that many cupules
and also most of the cup-and-rings within “disc-men” are much older,
even Neolithic (Van Hoek 1998: 53). These “disc-men” may therefore
well be instances of “re-sanctification” (Chapter 2.2).
� THE ‘DISC-MEN’ OF BOHUSLÄN �
This chapter especially discusses the enigmatic “liaison” between cupand-rings
and anthropomorphic elements, producing the typical “discmen”.
Possibly, this “liaison” was the result of a process that involved
the gradual personification of (earlier) abstract motifs. An early stage
may be noted at Herrebro near
Norrköping. On a large panel (Fig.
144.D) there is one cup-and-ring
with appendices looking like legs
(Fig. 148.A1) and another with
possible arm, erect penis (?) and a
head (Fig. 148.A2). Similar examples
occur at nearby Skälv 10 (Fig.
148.B). Just possibly these examples
represent the first attempts to
personify abstract motifs that
already were present on the rock,
but did not fit into their culture.
FIG. 148: PERSONIFICATION OF
ABSTRACT SYMBOLS.
M. van HOEK: 186
GEOGRAPHY