Bird carvings at Brodick

Stronach Wood 1

Image by Howburn Digger

Rhiannon Jul 16, 2010 19:06:49

Howburn Digger, you sound really excited about your bird carvings at Brodick, and that's really cool.

But I can't really see what you mean, maybe I can see your heron but not really the raven or the curlew. You could post a photo that you've traced over where you see the figures?

MAybe some rock art types could comment on how they might have been carved / formed, I don't know if that's possible from a photo? I don't know nuffin about it.

I like your Andy Goldsworthy pine needles!

Howburn Digger Jul 16, 2010 20:02:56

Replying to Rhiannon

Glad you think its cool my dear. I have posted a poorly outlined version in red for you. Only the top half of the Raven (or Crow) is carved in deep relief the rest is picked out in clear lines.The Curlew sits under the deeply carved out Raven (or Crow)'s head and in front of its legs. Look for the curving lines which form the Curlew's head and continue the curve through its beak.
I should point out. I did not wash, scrub, scour or clean the rock of the lichen, moss or slimy stuff to make it easier for me to photograph. Keep looking... sometimes it helps to stand six feet back from your computer screen!

tiompan Jul 16, 2010 20:08:22

Replying to Rhiannon

Rhiannon wrote:

Howburn Digger, you sound really excited about your bird carvings at Brodick, and that's really cool.

But I can't really see what you mean, maybe I can see your heron but not really the raven or the curlew. You could post a photo that you've traced over where you see the figures?

MAybe some rock art types could comment on how they might have been carved / formed, I don't know if that's possible from a photo? I don't know nuffin about it.

I like your Andy Goldsworthy pine needles!

.I don't think it's fair to comment on pics of rock art when they response is negative , often pics are crap and the site is ultimately genuine ,sometimes the pics look good and on inspection it's not genuine (this is much more uncommon ). In this case ,fwiw , the pics are fine , I see what looks like a mixture of natural and possibly man made marks without any species of bird being apparent . If they are engravings depicting birds they are unlikely to be contemporary with the other recorded markings . The only representational markings of animals are either early ,for Britain ,i.e. Cresswell (approx 11,000 BC ) or later than the cup and ring tradition i.e. Eggerness . deer and horses are the usual suspects , can't think of any birds off hand . Sorry for the negativity .

The Eternal Jul 16, 2010 21:37:27

Replying to Rhiannon

Howburn Digger and Rhiannon,

I'm no expert on rock art, or owt for that matter, but here's my two-penneth:-

The carvings initially seem too deep, meaning a lot of effort in that type of rock. But then I consider the deep cup-marks in Cumbria, which have been carved out of hard rock. Then the shapes in the Brodick rocks don't seem to be clearly representing anything, even though I agree that they don't look completely natural. As a juror, I am still out.

Interesting all the same, especially since it's next to existing rock art. Difficult subject, rock art, as it's hard to prove if it's genuine, or how old it is.

Regards to you both,
TE.

StoneGloves Jul 17, 2010 04:28:28

Replying to Rhiannon

Tall Poppy Syndrome. It hurts to see it happen. I can't get int Yahoos, so can't see the pictures, perhaps fortunately. I know that there are not many figurative carvings, from that era, just a few body parts (and I've got the best of those), and certainly no animals. The ones you might expect would be domestic/food species, perhaps, sheep, pigs and cattle - followed by prey/food species deer, hare and blackbird. But good luck to anybody that is prepared to face the onslaught of nothingness from the professional archaeologists (who are mainly brain dead) and the armchair critics ( who are usually arse dead).