Re: Re-used rock art? | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Cairn W 1

Image by CianMcLiam

Re-used rock art?

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bawn79 Oct 22, 2008 15:59:13

Replying to CianMcLiam

CianMcLiam wrote:

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/71049/cairn_w.html

To me, this looks identical to common or garden open air rock art, it is on one of the orthostats of the ruin of Carin W in front of Cairn T, similar markings are on other stones. This would obviously lead to the conclusion that the rock art is earlier, and not from the bronze age.

What is your theory Cian?
That the passage-tomb builders reused rock art that was lying about the countryside as part of a new culture? Would that mean that the passage tomb builders didnt create the art that adorns them?
(Not being smart actually quite the opposite.)

CianMcLiam Oct 22, 2008 16:37:40

Replying to bawn79

I think it could be plausible that groups gathering stones for passage tombs found some with rock art and incorporated it within the tombs, in this case it was clearly meant to be seen. Whether this influenced the addition of the more complex passage tomb art or if passage tomb art was being made previously and this was seen as 'ancestor art' suitable for using in the tombs would be very hard to clarify.

Whatever sequence or scenario, it would be interesting to confirm if this is likely to be true rock art re-used since this implies that rock art was being created either at the same time or before neolithic passage tombs and does not originate in the bronze age, even if it continued to be created during the BA. This particular stone has carvings on it pretty much identical to rock art found nearby. It could at least give a new lower age limit for Irish rock art if it could be confirmed.