Re: animals | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

rockartwolf May 25, 2008 12:03:12

Replying to Rhiannon

Hi Rhiannon,
as you say animal carvings of this quality are not what you would classify as the norm, as you say perhaps not quite as old as the cup and ring carvings we are used to seeing. The important thing to remember is that the animal carvings are on panels that also include the cup and ring carvings, thats the appealing idea of the relationship between the cup and ring carvings and the animal carvings, the age gap, the meaning of the place to both sets of carvers, but also to why this single area alone, no where else along the whole galloway coast line. Lots of questions, not enough answers.

I hope i am correct in saying that these carvings belong on this site, for any site to include rock art from Galloway, must contain these carvings, they hold some answers to the time after the cup and ring style of carving.

Rockrich May 25, 2008 15:53:14

Replying to rockartwolf

Thanks for posting the pics Wolfy, looks like another terrific site.

I must admit though, seeing zoomorphic carvings like this close to CnRs, does make that nagging feeling I have, that the CnR tradition may have continued well beyond the B-A, nag a little more. Of course there’s no evidence for this ‘nagging feeling’ and all the cups found in and around I-A / Romano-British settlements are unequivocally evidence of earlier occupation:-) (I’ve just become a RA heretic haven’t I?)

I wonder if these animals have any resemblance stylistically, to those you find carved next to CnRs at various sites in Galicia??

It’s interesting to see some of the animal’s positions next to and over fissures, particularly where the legs/feet disappear in (I had to notice that). This is also a characteristic of some animal carvings made by folks frequenting southern Libya (pre Sahara) and other parts about 8000yrs ago.

Rhiannon May 26, 2008 18:52:30

Replying to rockartwolf

thanks, I do like them, and you're right - if they're next to cup and rings then there's some connection in the minds of the people who made them (even if we'll never be sure what that might be).