No, I don't have a theory or a decent hypothesis, just a general experiment. What fascinates and infuriates me is how the boundaries of Rock Art are so clearly defined and how rock art from beyond the confines is utterly ignored. It is effectively invisible. And, no, you don't want many tedious examples, one will be enough. Earthbound boulders with simple conventional Rock Art but including an ancient bead, or beads, of fused copper. (Try getting a rock art expert to look at that!)

My suggested experiment? Whenever the conversation turns in that direction replace the words 'rock art' with 'Henry Moore sculpture'. That's the best way to understand it, perhaps ...

Here's a snippet I read a while back in a fictional work about Troy that might (if based on fact) be of relevance. There's a bit in the book where two of the characters are talking about a method of signage used by traders in the Levant during the early bronze age, where by a system of circles and lines was used to indicate if an area had been scouted out for potential custom. It made reference to things like, a circle with a broken ring meant no hostile forces, a broken inner ring meant little trade, unbroken circles meant strong defences and good trade, whilst a line running through two unbroken circles meant the area is unscouted and unknown.

Now this is probably totally made up, but you get my drift, some kind of non-alphabetic code made in permanent marker to assist travelling trade types. Personally, I think it's pretty unlikely to explain our CnRs, but it's a nice thought provoking idea :-)

For my mind, I'm still of the opinion that one of the best explanations is one of the oldest, from Mr Tate in 1853 that the carvings represent 'a common origin, and indicate a symbolic meaning, representing some popular thought, telling of the faith and hope of the original inhabitants of Britain'.

It's that single line in some cup and ring marks that cuts through (but doesn't actually cut into the rings) which is so intriguing. If that motif popped up in modern art it'd keep you puzzled and transfixed. Dunno, it's saying something - something that you can almost grasp... but not quite...

You could counter: art. so what's that all about then. ? And you can't expect to get a straightforward answer about that one either.

The few things I have read (and maybe it just says a lot about the kind of books I opt for!) suggest its all part of Shaman rituals. If you take certain hallucinogens then you see concentric rings, squiggly lines, zigzags etc.

These were (and still are in areas where there are still shamans) often believed to be the ACTUAL next dimention or the land of the dead or the spirits of wherever you were trying to get to.

When Graham Hancock took ibogaine as study for the book Supernatural he saw the exact symbols that are often seen as rock art in ancient caves such a wiggly lines, serpents and circles.

Hi,
swagg.org are publishing 2 new reports today, the first one includes a new view on rock art by Tim Laurie.

The direct links are: http://www.swaag.org/publicationsTL15CFS.htm

and http://www.swaag.org/publicationsSWAAG02.htm

I hope you find them informative

Maps!

Stoned out of their minds, bored to death.

http://lovebunnies.luckypro.biz/01_stuff/04_galleries/2005-07_Tahoe/index.html

Feel free to google "grimes point" I realize this isn't UK Neolithic. Still...