New prehistoric rock carvings discovered in Northern England

[Dover]

New prehistoric rock carvings discovered in Northern England




More than 250 new examples of England's finest array of prehistoric rock art carvings, sited close to the Scottish border, have been discovered by archaeologists compiling a unique database.

Now over one thousand of the 'cup and ring' carvings can be admired on a new website, which carries 6,000 images and is said to be the most comprehensive of its kind in the world.

The site, which goes live today, includes the 250 panels unearthed during a two-and-a-half year trawl of some of England's remotest countryside, in the expansive moorlands of Northumberland.

Experts, however, are still grappling with the origins and meaning of these abstract carvings, believed to be the work of Neolithic and Early Bronze Age people between 6000 and 3500 years ago, although there are several theories.

Among the new discoveries made by the University of Newcastle upon Tyne archaeologists is a collection at Goatstones, near Wark, where a haul of 14 carved stones was spotted and recorded for the first time. Elsewhere in the county, a local farmer alerted the team to seven panels on his land, which had not been previously recorded.

Old favourites will also be featured in the website, such as the country's largest collection of rock art featured in one place, at Roughting Linn...cont'd

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-01/uonu-npr011305.php

[Nihil]

1. Link to gallery site

The actual site (as opposed to the publicity article) is at:

http://rockart.ncl.ac.uk/

I've seen quite a few of these in situ - mainly in Scotland but also
in Northumberland - and find them oddly fascinating.

Thanks for posting this Dover!