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

These migrations and explorations certainly caused a lot of uncertainty
and distress to the participants and for that reason several rituals like
executing cupules may have originated (or these already existed but
were practised more intensively). Most probably the cupule execution
was a mix of all sorts of magical rituals and beliefs. But the major part
would comprise the idea that in this way one was able to communicate
with the spirit world and simultaneously to propitiate the deities of
the new land that were dwelling the “underworld”. I have argued before
(Van Hoek 1997: 4) that the execution of cupules much resembles
instances of imitative magic practised in many different cultures; by
knocking on an object, tree, rock or person one thought it was possible
to turn away evil forces or malevolent spirits. This may also have been
one of the reasons behind the execution of many cupules in Europe (and
elsewhere).
But not only the act of making a cupule was important; also the result:
the rock and its symbols, which became a focal point for the group. In
this way fixed points in the landscape originated and in this way the
landscape got organised. Prehistoric people must have realised this and
therefore one was cautious not to select just a rock surface for their
petroglyphic rituals. The initial selection of a rock surface for cupules
(and later cup-and-rings) may have been a public operation, possibly
executed on a conscious and unconscious level. Although it is certain
that rocks were definitely not selected randomly, it is still obscure for
our modern minds why one rock was engraved and not its equally
suitable neighbour.
* 3.2.6 ABOUT RINGMARKS *
Only later, new Neolithic groups may have moved into the cupule
regions, introducing revolutionary farming techniques. As a consequence
the earlier nomadic forager-lifestyle petered out. More important
however, is that such sedentary communities also introduced a more
centred (circular !) perspective of life and for that reason these
groups may have developed the ringmark as a (rock art) symbol. These
settlers however, may have appreciated the sanctity of the cupule
rocks which they encountered so much, that they were prepared to
incorporate the earlier hallowed places with the old symbols into their
own culture.
Simultaneously certain places became important focal spots, often
located on or near the ancient linear paths and tracks of the earlier
nomadic cupule-people. Perhaps it also became a practice for small
groups to coalesce at these geographic spots in larger collective groups
for purposes of information exchange, trade but above all rituals.
These focal spots were visited and revisited over many generations and
continuing ritual most likely will have led to the accumulation of
petroglyphs.
M. van HOEK: 237
GEOGRAPHY