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XII.—Cup-and-Ring Carvings: Some Remarks on their Classification, and a new Suggestion as to their Origin and Meaning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 November 2011

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Extract

The curious carvings to which the name “Cup-and-Ring” has been applied are very widely distributed over the globe. They are found in the British Islands, France, Scandinavia, and other parts of Europe, and have been noted in India and in Fiji. They occur on natural rock surfaces, on boulders in situ, on standing stones, on cromlechs, on detached stones forming parts of chambered cairns, cist or urn covers, or built into Pictish weems or brochs; and also on grave-stones in Christian churchyards, and on the walls of churches themselves.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1909

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References

page 361 note a Since the above was written, Dr. Martin, F.S.A., has called my attention to the fact that they are also found in Thibet. See Landon, Percival, Lhasa (1905), ii. 162, 163.Google Scholar

page 362 note a Reprinted from The Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, v.

page 362 note b I retain the term “rings” as being well established, but many of the grooves surrounding the cups take other than circular forms.

page 363 note a This method may be seen in use to-day in almost any quarry.

page 366 note a Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, iii. 130Google Scholar.

page 366 note b Transactions of the Tyneside Club, vi. 21Google Scholar.

page 366 note c On Rock-basins in Dartmoor, 117.

page 366 note d Tate, , op. cit. 38Google Scholar, 39.

page 367 note a Tate, , op. cit. 41Google Scholar.

page 368 note a Tate, , op. cit. 42Google Scholar, 43.

page 368 note b Tate, , op. cit. 35Google Scholar.

page 369 note a Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 1864–5, Appendix, 102.

page 369 note b Simpson, , op. cit. 104Google Scholar.

page 370 note a Journal of the British Archæological Association, xxxviii. 163Google Scholar.

page 370 note b Ibid.

page 370 note c Reliquary and Illustrated Archæologist, ii. 67Google Scholar.

page 371 note a Mr. Allen, when writing this, must surely have forgotten his strictures on “mere guesses quite unsupported by facts.”

page 371 note b Again the author's memory is at fault. On a previous page (67) he says: “They (the cup and-ring marked stones) are found neither in the bottom of the valley of the Wharfe nor on the highest parts of Rumbold's Moor, but between the 600 feet and 1,100 feet contour lines.” The highest point of Rumbold's Moor, due south of IIkley, is 1,323 feet above sea-level.

page 371 note c Op. cit. 122.

page 372 note a Simpson, , op. cit. 105Google Scholar.

page 373 note a Simpson, , op. cit. 109Google Scholar, 110.

page 374 note a Spencer, , op. tit. 234Google Scholar.

page 374 note b Tylor, ii. 21.

page 374 note c Tylor, ii. 24.

page 374 note d Greenwell, , British Barrows, 8Google Scholar.

page 375 note a Greenwell, , British Barrows, 10Google Scholar.

page 375 note b Spencer, 1 67, 168.

page 375 note c Spencer, 212.

page 375 note d Simpson, op. cit. 117.

page 375 note e Spencer, 273.

page 376 note a Tylor, ii. 23.

page 376 note b Tylor, i. 442.

page 377 note a Since the above was written, Mr. Towry Whyte, F.S.A., has called my attention to a recent publication of The British School of Archælogy in Egypt, Gizeh and Rifeh, by Professor Flinders Petrie, 1907. About 150 “soul-houses” were found during the excavations at Rifeh, dating from the VIth, Xth, XIth, and XIIth Dynasties. They consist of clay models of actual houses, with couches, chairs, water-stands, offerings of food and drink, corn-grinders, etc. Professor Petrie states that these models were placed upon the surface of the ground over the grave; he suggests that “the initial motive for such dwellings may perhaps be seen in foreign influences.” Illustrations of many of these are given.

page 379 note a Mr. Landon states that scrapings from cup marks are used in Thibet as medicine; Lhasa, ii. 383.

page 379 note b Wilson, Prehistoric Annals of Scotland, 400.

page 379 note c Cutts, Manual of Sepulchral Slabs and Crosses, pl. viii.