Archaeologists have discovered a large group of ancient rock art in Perthshire (Scotland), which they hope will shed more light on the area’s prehistoric inhabitants. A team working on National Trust for Scotland (NTS) land found the previously undiscovered cup-and-ring style markings on a hillside overlooking Loch Tay and Kenmore. The carvings could date back to Neolithic times and be up to 5,000 years old.
     Cup-and-ring rock art features abstract symbols of circles and cups, chipped out of the stone some time between 3,000-1,500 BCE, from the late Neolithic period to the early Bronze Age. "It is likely that these specialised symbols had different meanings depending on their context of use, much like the Christian cross," explained Derek Alexander, NTS West Region Archaeologist. "Some are used in ceremonial monuments, others are on public display in open landscapes like Ben Lawers, while some are included in individual burial cists [stone caskets]."
     The archaeological team, led by Professor Richard Bradley from Reading University and Aaron Watson, decided to excavate one of the terraces along the hillside where the carvings were found. "The team have been excavating small trenches around the bedrock outcrops to try and find any artefactual evidence that might be contemporary with the carving and use of the rock art sites," said Derek. "Already quantities of flaked and worked quartz have been recovered," he added. "More surprising, however, was the discovery of two flakes of Arran pitchstone. This is a volcanic glass that is only found on the Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde and must have been brought to the site at Ben Lawers."
     It is hoped that these discoveries will lead to a much better understanding of Scotland’s prehistoric past, said archaeologist Aaron Watson, who has investigated several cup-and-ring sites, including one at Kilmartin Glen in Argyll. "What is important about our current work is trying to move beyond simply studying the individual motifs to finding evidence for the people who made, used and understood these sites."

Source: Graham Spicer for 24 Hour Museum (3 August 2007)