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

* 3.1.3 COMPLEX MOTIFS *
From the above examples it looks as if complex cup-and-rings are an
exclusive feature of the European continent. This proves to be wrong.
Indeed, most cup-and-rings outside Europe are simple of character,
like the ones from Yi Shan in China
(Fig. 181), but on the other side of
the Pacific , in the United States of
America, are several examples of
complex cup-and-rings. Contrary to
the European distribution, the scant
American examples are found
scattered all over the continent.
Fine instances of complex cup-and-
FIG. 181 (ABOVE): PART
OF THE ENGRAVINGS
FROM YI SHAN, CHINA.
FIG. 182 (RIGHT): DETAIL
OF THE DECORATED
BOULDER FROM WALESKA,
U.S.A.
rings occur on a vertical cliff face overlooking Uvas Creek in
California; a county where several cup-and-ring sites have been
recorded (Mark & Newman 1995). Also a typical cup-and-ring boulder at
Waleska in Georgia, features complex art (Fig. 182).
The resemblance of these American cup-and-rings with the European
examples is striking (Morris 1988) but although even Palaeolithic
seafarers apparently acquired the ability to cross open ocean with ease
(Bednarik 1996: 122), it is doubtful whether there once existed a link
between these two manifestations of cup-and-ring execution. But still,
was Europe once influenced from the Americas ?
It is indeed striking that most European cup-and-ring regions are found
on the Atlantic seaboard facing the Americas (Fig. 183). However, the
European tradition is too distinctly different in number, in
geographical distribution and in archaeological context. I therefore
prefer to depart from a native origin for the European cup-and-ring
tradition. Let us now summarise what we have learned about the
characteristics, siting and distribution of the European cup-and-rings.
M. van HOEK: 221
GEOGRAPHY