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

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1.3.1.2 THE TAXES VALLEY The same pattern is repeated at As Laxiñas in the Taxes valley (marked II on Fig. 35). Here, faint complex petroglyphs are found on an inconspicuous outcrop on lower level and south of a very large outcrop dome (with a few doubtful single cups as well as a fake cup-and-tworings). The whole outcrop complex has a steep scarp to the west and offers wide panoramic views across the interior. The view towards the sea is completely blocked, although the general relief map gives the impression that the Ria de Muros would be visible. From the site the locations of quite a number of sites can be made out, but this may be coincidental. But it is nonetheless most impressive to observe the big rock of As Laxiñas from the Laxe do Carrizo high up the hill slope. 1.3.1.2.1 THE LAXE DO CARRIZO Large parts of the Muros peninsula abound in suitable exposed rock outcrops. To me this was the most puzzling aspect of the distribution of Galician petroglyphs. Why was a certain rock selected in favour of many others nearby that are equally or even better suitable ? This brings me to comment on one of the basic premises of the study by Bradley, Criado & Fábregas (1995: 354), who state that “if rock art had acted a system of messages between groups of people who were not present on the same occasions, it is essential that the intended audience would have been able to find it. That could only have happened if the carvings had been located in a consistent manner (emphases mine).” This statement presents two basic problems of the rock art of the Muros peninsula in particular and Galician rock art in general, as rock art sites are not distributed according to certain “rules”, especially not on micro level and, moreover, they are definitely not easy to locate. Even with the help of the directions in the guide by Eiroa & Rey and the presence of modern (unpaved) roads for easy access and orientation and the help of many locals, it proved to be extremely difficult to locate some of the sites in the field. This not only was evident at the Pedra da Chula and the Cova da Bruxa but also and especially at the Laxa do Carrizo, as again not a specific conspicuous rock had been selected, but one of many similar looking smaller outcrops high upon the steep, rock-strewn hill slope. The site indeed offers impressive views because of its high position, but it is definitely not easy to locate or to access. The situation in prehistoric times will certainly not have been easier. Also, the ubiquitous dense gorse bushes on this hill slope, also present at many other places in Galicia, and the many irregularly shaped, but also the often much sloping smooth outcrops make it extremely difficult to walk the area, let alone to trace the engravings. M. van HOEK: 66 GEOGRAPHY
Moreover, from whatever direction the Laxe do Carrizo is approached, never is there any specific natural landmark which would help people unfamiliar with the terrain to locate this important stone. A prominent outcrop stack as a point of reference (according to Eiroa & Rey) near the Laxe do Carrizo is only one of many of such outcrop stacks on this high dividing ridge and is of little help. The upper surface of this uncarved outcrop stack is covered with large natural basins, but these are invisible from below (this situation may be compared with the Pedra da Chula). If indeed the rock art on the Laxa do Carrizo was intended to convey certain images to strangers to an area, the site certainly was not a good choice, as it is highly unlikely that strangers would ever have found it without local help. There are many other rocks in the Muros peninsula that are far much better suited to attract the eye of a stranger at spots that are more easily accessible. It would have been for instance more logical to select prominent outcrops at lower level, such as the Laxe das Rodas in the San Francisco valley. * 1.3.1.3 THE SAN FRANCISCO VALLEY * A similar preference is noted at the Laxe das Rodas with its well known spirals and sets of small cupules (Fig. 47). The carvings, located on a partially quarried extension of lower rock just NE of a very large outcrop stack with many big natural basins, only overlook a small part of an inland basin (called braña in the Galician language; Bradley, Criado & Fábregas 1995: 348) at the head of the San Francisco valley. The views to the south, west and east are almost completely FIG. 47: LAXE DAS RODAS. blocked, even when standing on the high outcrop stack. To the north only part of the braña, or rather the pass to the Taxes valley (marked II on Fig. 35) and the main dividing ridge beyond is visible. To the south glimpses of the sea are visible only when standing on a higher part of the outcrop or on top of the outcrop stack itself. If extensive sea views would have been favoured, it would not have been difficult at all to find a suitable spot nearby, as only some 20 m to the SE are some very extensive smooth outcrops offering fine views of the mouth of the Ria de Muros. It is therefore more likely that the impressive outcrop stack with its natural, flat-bottomed and often M. van HOEK: 67 GEOGRAPHY
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The World of Petroglyphs CD Special
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Impressum: Stonewatch Society for c
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M. van HOEK: GEOGRAPHY INDEX PART 1
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lifetime job. For instance, it took
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* 1.1.2 THE LIMITS OF THE SUBJECT *
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geomorphologic characteristics of t
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The Irish island has three major op
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� CHAPTER 1.2.1 � THE KILMARTIN
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It is certain that, also in the Kil
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
Page 69 and 70: FIG.42: SANTA TECLA, CASTRO. instan
Page 71: small bit of the Taxes valley (mark
Page 75 and 76: argue that all these sites command
Page 77 and 78: One petroglyph outcrop stone is eve
Page 79 and 80: � CHAPTER 1.3.2 � GARGAMALA, A
Page 81 and 82: FIGURE 52: VISIBILITY FROM THE SITE
Page 83 and 84: encircle the ridge. Also the distri
Page 85 and 86: idge, centring on sites 3 and 4. Wh
Page 87 and 88: APPENDIX 1 AN INVENTORY OF THE ROCK
Page 89 and 90: Group 7C. Described by COSTAS GOBER
Page 91 and 92: and is approximately 1 to 0.5 cm de
Page 93 and 94: � CHAPTER 1.4 � THE ALPS, THE B
Page 95 and 96: * 1.4.1.1.1 There indeed prove to b
Page 97 and 98: * 1.4.1.1.2 Although the Alps are r
Page 99 and 100: FIG. 63: PART OF COREN DE LE FATE,
Page 101 and 102: floodplain of the valley of the Upp
Page 103 and 104: This rock also features a small cup
Page 105 and 106: idge called Crete des Barmes, only
Page 108 and 109: � CHAPTER 1.4.2 � ELVAS AND SPR
Page 110 and 111: photo photo photo photo FIG. 77: TH
Page 112 and 113: found linearly grouped along a stee
Page 114 and 115: undertaken (Figs 84 and 85). The tr
Page 116 and 117: FIGURE 87: SPRONS 2. The lack of ro
Page 118 and 119: especially dealing with the distrib
Page 120 and 121: 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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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
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88. PETTERSSON, J. & G. KRISTIANSSO
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113. VAN HOEK, M. 1988b. Possible
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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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