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

water-filled basins on top initially attracted the petroglyph
manufacturers (compare with the Pedra da Chula).
The large outcrop stack also has a few simple cupules on a ledge at its
NE, “overlooking” the complex engravings further NE. In Galicia single
cupules often are found on rocks that are situated slightly higher than
the complex engravings. This brings Bradley, Criado & Fabregas to
suggest that “they (the cupules) may have been added to places that
had an already established significance (1995: 358)”. This statement is
rather obscure as it is not clear whether the authors meant that the
significance had firstly been established by the natural basins or by
the complex designs. In my opinion the complex design were added
later, whereas the cupules already had enhanced the importance of the
natural basins and the outcrop stack. It may also be important that the
two most complex designs (one comprising a natural basin with a natural
crack as radial groove: Fig. 47) are both surrounded by distinct small
uniform cupules in an organised manner, but simultaneously are
situated near a small cluster of random standard cupules of different
sizes, generally considered by me to be older.
* 1.3.1.4 CONCLUSIONS *
Unfortunately Bradley, Criado & Fábregas only discussed two valley
systems with rock art on the Muros peninsula (San Francisco and
Serres), whereas there actually are four valleys with petroglyphs. Two
of the valleys start at the accessible beaches of San Francisco
(marked Ia on Fig. 35) and Louro (Ib), the coastline of the latter
valley probably extending much further inland in prehistoric days. Both
valleys connect via low passes with the sheltered valley at Laxes (II),
(named Serres by Bradley, Criado & Fábregas 1995: 355) continuing
north as the distinctly individually developed valley of Valdexería.
All rock art sites are found surprisingly concentrated east of the high
dividing ridge which extends from the north to the south at Monte
Naraio. An exception is the site at Chans de Tras. It is the only site
situated on top of the crest of the dividing ridge, but despite its high
altitude it is invisible from all other sites. It is also the only site with
wide views of both the Ria de Muros and the Atlantic Ocean and the
only site with a view of the beautiful beaches at Carnota.
At the extreme south end of the dividing ridge are the important
groups of Naraio, situated among a large number of conspicuous outcrop
formations. The rock art group at Monte Naraio 2 overlooks the ancient
coastline and the probable landing site, whereas Monte Naraio 1 is more
focussed on the interior, and its labyrinth shaped petroglyphs connect
with a similar design at the Laxe do Carrizo, still further inland.
Most remarkable, the group of rock art sites at San Francisco is found
in a distinct arc, parallel to the accessible beach, and they probably
embrace the ancient landing place. Although Bradley, Criado & Fábregas
M. van HOEK: 68 GEOGRAPHY