Re: West Kennett cup-markings...? | Forum

Hob Oct 26, 2004 22:47:13

Replying to fitzcoraldo

I think Paulus must be right, It's a Northern thing ;)

That sarsen stuff though (with an 's' or a 'c'), It's fulla of natural cups. After seeing the things on Fyfield Down (Un-Beckensalled cups they are too) this summer, I gave West Kennet 's facade a good scouring for cups, there were a few that got me wondering. But then after a look at the holes in Wayland's Smithy, I wasn't so sure. Took pics of the Wayland's holes, but not of those on WK. Wish I'd taken the time to check the avenue.

So no help from me there really, other than to suggest the totally vague and unprovable idea that natural holes in earlier monuments could have inspired the production of artificial holes in later creations. Vice versa even.

Pete G Oct 26, 2004 23:14:13

Replying to Hob

I think the WKLB 'cups' are natural.
There are 3 stones in the barrow which have axe pollishing marks on them
The WK ave has 2 stones with very vague cup marks. Kieller thought they were real at first but abandoned the idea when it came time to write up the reports.
I found a stone near Mottistone longbarrow on the Isle of Wight this weekend that has a possible carving but seeing as the rock is so soft I now doubt that it is very old at all.
PeteG

fitzcoraldo Oct 27, 2004 10:42:11

Replying to Hob

Just for the sake of accuracy.
To say it's a northern thing isn't quite accurate, In our islands it's a Scottish, Welsh, Irish & English thing. In England its a - from the Borders to the Peaks thing which then picks up again in the south west.
It's also very much a global thing e.g. check out the beautiful Sardinian cup-marked megalithic puffball on page 433 of TME.

West Kennett cup-markings​…?

West Kennett cup-markings…?