Ancient Stone Age Rock Art Discovered
Discovery of more than 100 complex and intricate Stone Age carvings of Neolithic art have been revealed by researchers in the North of England found at several sites across Durham and Northumberland. They are among 2,500 known works of carvings which have stood the test of time in England — natural erosion, quarrying, and field clearance — dating back thousands of years.
Volunteers have found more than 100 examples of ancient rock art in places like the
Ketley Crag Rock Shelter in Northumberland. Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
The most fascinating discovery of all is a large carved panel found on a sandstone boulder on Barningham Moor — a 984 foot (300 meter) high area of Co Durham, on the edge of the Pennines — bearing abstract carvings of interlocking grooves and hollowed cups with surrounding circles, carved out by ancient man using nothing more than tools of stone and bone.
Unusual carvings of rock art in the region vary from simple, circular hollows known as ‘cups’ to more complex patterns with cups, rings, and intertwining grooves. Many are in magnificent, elevated locations with far-reaching views, but some are also found on monuments such as standing stones and stone circles, or within burial mounds.
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
The carvings were made by Neolithic and Early Bronze Age inhabitants between 3,500 and 6,000 years ago.
A new rock art panel of a figure of a warrior, complete with sword, shield and knife was discovered by NADRAP volunteers at Carr Edge near Hadrian’s Wall in 2005 which appears similar to Iron Age figures in Sweden and Italy, and to other figure carvings in Northumberland and Cumbria.
Its carvings have been interpreted as the god Cocidius, a Germanic god of war in the Iron Age, later adopted by the Romans, with more than 20 dedications along Hadrian’s Wall. A second figure identified on the same panel is probably female being similar to carvings of the Romano-British triple goddess.
Elaborately carved panel in Barningham Moor, County Durham.
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
A mysterious circular design was uncovered in Chatton, Northumberland.
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
The Ringses in Old Bewick in Northumberkand was one of the new discoveries
of the year for the English Heritage project. Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
The symbols of rock art on the outcrops and boulders of Britain are mostly abstract with meanings that may forever remain a mystery, although they also include carvings of daggers and axe heads that can be seen among other places at Stonehenge.
No representational figures are known other than the animal figures at Goatscrag Rock Shelter, which are of indeterminate age. While the art is mostly curvilinear, Neolithic inhabitants also occasionally made square shaped designs, such as the grid pattern at Fowberry Enclosure, and the rectangular grooves enclosing cups at Amerside Law.
The region’s rock art depicts the ingenuity of carvers who used a small number of motifs to create a variety of designs that vary from the simple to the more complex.
Most of the carvings in England were done on sandstone except for several in the Cheviots and in Cumbria that were made on igneous rocks.
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Where rock art has been recently uncovered or has resisted erosion particularly well, individual pick marks that produce cups and rings are visible, especially in low light. The size of the ‘picking’ or ‘pecking’ shows that a variety of tools were used, some with a fine nail-like point and others with a broad chisel, amongst others.
The original meaning of the symbols has been lost, but they provide a unique personal link with our prehistoric ancestors.
These fascinating pieces of rock art are threatened by both human and natural factors — many have already weathered away or were lost to man’s doings such as quarrying.
Gled Law, Northumberland. Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Old Bewick, Northumberland. Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Baildon Moor, Yorkshire. Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
“‘There are many theories as to what rock art carvings mean.” said Kate Wilson, inspector of ancient monuments at English Heritage. “They may have played a role in fire, feastings and offering activities, or been used as signposts, or to mark territory.”
“They may have a spiritual significance. In hunter-gatherer communities those places where mountains touch the sky or the sea reaches the shore are often considered the domain of supernatural ancestors. Most rock art is found in those areas.”
“Neolithic Age saw the arrival of a fairly sophisticated culture with the introduction of agriculture. They were settling and cultivating something.” Wilson added.
“You find monuments such as stone circles and henges. Something’s going on where society’s changing. This is a story yet to be told.”
“‘We expected to discover one or two simple carvings.” said Richard Stroud, a volunteer who discovered the Barningham boulder. “Instead we found a breathtaking panel, probably one of the most complex discovered in County Durham.”
“There is a gulf of time and civilization between the society that carved this stone and ours, its true meaning is something we will possibly never understand.” he said.
Gayles Moor, Yorkshire. Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Fylingdales Moor, North Yorkshire. Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
English Heritage volunteers have been working to record locations, content, context and condition of rock art in the area, and have launched a website with scores of stunning images designed to catalogue and highlight these ancient carvings from the results of the 4-year pilot project — some of which are 6,000 years old.
Edward Impey, director of research and standards at English Heritage said, “The online record of the Northumberland and Durham examples will serve as the starting point for a national survey, and we hope help us understand their meaning and lead to the discovery of others.”
Prior to the Beckensall Archive of Northumberland Rock Art Project, the number of rock art panels thought to exist in Northumberland varied from 250 to 450 panels, but the project’s success brought the total to just over 1000 known panels.
The NADRAP Project has now added approximately 200 records for Northumberland, and around 300 panels were recorded in County Durham, bringing the total for the 2 counties to around 1,500. Approximately 2,500 carved rock art panels have been recorded in England with examples in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Cumbria, and a few occurring in the south west. Many more are known in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
Retired Hexham headmaster Stan Beckensall has been logging ‘rock art’ for the past 50 years and has donated his findings to add to the online database of carvings.
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Urgent need to record and conserve these ancient marks is required so they can be studied and enjoyed by future generations, and England’s Rock Art database (ERA) is a major step towards that goal, with intention to one day provide a record for all of England’s rock art of this unique cultural resource and instill conservation initiatives.
English Heritage hopes to continue the ground-breaking work in other counties to create a nationwide record.
“‘Our volunteer recorders have worked alongside experts in the field to develop new techniques and produce stunning 3D computer models of rock art for display.” said Sara Rushton, Northumberland county archaeologist and manager of the project.
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Photogrammetry provides a means for accurate measurement of archaeological features and artifacts through 3D recording and visualization. The technique is based on the principal of stereo-photography where 2 images of the same subject are taken from slightly different positions.
The different perspective in each pair of images allows a 3D representation of the object or site to be recorded. Processing this information through computer software enables a wide range of visual data to be created including line drawings, contour plots, and 3D surface models.
“These models can be manipulated to show some carvings which are now almost completely invisible to the naked eye and will be a fantastic tool for managing these ancient sites for the future.” Rushton added.
Photo Copyright Brian Kerr
Photos Copyright Brian Kerr
Visit England’s Rock Art website to learn more, where you can view a full catalogue of the region’s rock carvings.
Photos copyright and property of Brian Kerr.
Sources: Daily Mail and English Heritage
its all fake – just poured hydro-stone that some russians brought in when everyone was sleeping – the same ones that did stonehenge
Awesome pictures! These carvings are amazing!
Ancient rock art is so mysterious and compelling. One wants to know more about the people and the purpose. Great post!
The pictures are really beautiful.
They remind me of crop circles, but they are really breathtaking pictures.
Cute, cool blog
Indeed, Andrew
Thanks Kuanyin
I find them highly intriguing.
Jong and Al, definitely beautiful and breathtaking. Even better still would be to see them in person
They are some very nice rocks. Would love to see them in real life.
Are there location guides or similar around?. This stuff fascinates me.
Unreal*
Peace*
I really couldn’t tell you, bushy. If you intend to visit any of these areas, perhaps check out the website at English heritage to see if they offer tours. The link is at the bottom of the article.
Very unusual, aren’t they Billy
Australian aboriginals paint rings like this on rocks to indicate the location of waterholes – it’s a representation of the ripples on water. These carvings could have the same purpose, with the radial lines indicating the direction and perhaps the number of rings indicating distance.
Really beautiful photos, and some of them do look similar to crop circles.
Love these photos!
Amazing photos. Some of the circular ones resemble “ufos” that swarmed NASAS tether that broke away from the space station in 1997. Check it out.
Consider the possibility that some of these are not ‘just’ art. Some look like they could also be games.
You may have a valid point there Don.
Here is a link to some very interesting photos.
http://groups.msn.com/NASAUFOS/photos1.msnw?Page=1
Thanks Lola, I’ll look into this for a future article
Your welcome Deborah, pay special attention to the photo that was taken in Dales England. I have a friend who video taped one of these “ufos”, it is identical to the one taken at Dales. Many ancient peoples recorded unexplainable events by painting, carving or writing about them. I know it sounds a bit “out there” but you have to admit it’s very interesting…yes?
Thanks Lola, I will. Yes, it’s indeed interesting
I’m rather fascinated with the Dropa Stones. There aren’t many photos available for use to include in a write-up, but hopefully the story on its own will carry well enough to hold interest for others.
Hi Folks,
I am glad you all appreciate the wonderful rock carvings and my photographs, If you would like to learn or know more about the carvings or my work, please contact me at my email address or through my website, both attached.
If any of you would like to see the carvings in person, please again contact me.
all the best.
Brian Kerr
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