BRAG 2010 Meeting

(Click to enlarge)

First announcement:

BRAG 2010 will be held on Saturday 8 May 2010 in the McDonald Institute Seminar Room, Department of Archaeology, Cambridge University.

More information >>

Rock Art Reservoir?

Hi Folks,

Recently I received a couple of photographs from Pat Morrissey of some stones on the Eastern shore of Glensherup Reservoir near Glendevon (Perth and Kinross). He would be very happy to have your opinion about the status (man-made or natural) of the cup-like depressions.

For the location of the finding spot click here.

I think the cups on photo A, except for the “hole” on the front-side, come close to the genuine ones. The features in photo B, C and D are likely to be candidates for the description “natural”.

I know that it is hard to make a proper judgement from photographs, but I hope you would give it a try!

Have a nice weekend.

Cheers,

Jan

RA Walk 25th October

Hi Folks,

Received the following from Paul Brown:

http://www.scribd.com/full/19032333?access_key=key-2fbg04xsgdu0rvfrmzlb

Great chance for an Autumn stroll. Have fun and fair weather!

Cheers,

Jan

Briton in Brazil

Hi Folks,

George Nash sent me his article about the rock art (adventure!) in the Serra Capivara, NE Brazil.

It can be viewed on Scribd and downloaded from there as a PDF-file.

Some of his photos, which I received last June, are now in the “Wordwide Rock Art Selection“.

George wrote further: “Those of you interested in looking further at rock-art articles from around the world or anything else, please go to the Current World Archaeology“.

Although not British Rock Art, it is at least Rock Art recorded by a familiar Briton. Thanks George!

Enjoy,

Jan

Rock Articles

Hi Folks,

There is a new kid on the blog!

Recently, Kate Sharpe published a newsletter about anything Rock Art.

The No. 1 issue can be viewed on Scribd.

To make use of the active links in the document you may download the PDF version from Scribd to your computer.

We wish Kate all the best with this great initiative and many readers.

Check it out!

Cheers,

Jan

Shoreside cups, bait mortars etc

Howdo

I was out doing a little beachcombing yesterday and came across these

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3479/3797899042_66a24a5e27_o.jpg

There were quite a few of them scattered amongst the weed along the intertidal zone. My best guess is that these marks are caused by limpets, possibly aided by wave action. It got me thinking about the cups that I’d been shown at Barraglom on the Isle of Lewis by the wonderful Margaret Curtis.

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/47283/barraglom.html

I’ve also read of similar small shoreside cups being used as bait mortars. The problem I have with this is that the cups I’ve seen are quite small and would probably not be very good as mortars, plus, why would you need so many? one mortar should suffice. Larger cups or basins yes but perhaps not the little fellas.

So basically all I want to do is throw these limpet marks plus a little erosion into the arena as another possible cause of cupmarks in the intertidal zone.  Of course this theory would probably only work with sedimentary rocks. The rock in my picture is a Jurassic mudstone.

cheers

Gavin

RAM 2010

Those of you who attended this years RAM are probably aware that there was a vote taken to nominate the facilitator of next years RAM, despite being in absentia, I won, or lost depending on your perspective. I guess it would be unsporting of me not to bow to the will of the RAM so I accept the task.

I can provisionally announce that next years RAM will sadly not be held in Malta, my first choice, but will be held in North Yorkshire, more precisely on and around Fylingdales Moor.
I have secured the services of  local rock art expert and author, Mr Greame Chappell, who has kindly waived his usual fee to act as our guide.

 For those of you who have not read Greames book, it’s called Prehistoric Rock Art in the North York Moors by Brown & Chappell. Copies are getting scarce so I’d grab one soon if I were you.

That’s about all I can tell you for now. 

cheers

Gavin

Stan’s UNESCO Paper

Hi Folks,

Stan Beckensall sent me the final draft of his 2005 UNESCO paper with an overview of British Rock Art.

I thought it might be of interest to you too.

The article can be viewed on Scribd by clicking this link.

Cheers,

Jan

How many concentric rings?

Anyone know which  carved rock  has the largest number of concentric rings (in the british isles)?

by region would be nice too…………
for the west yorkshire area it looks to be 7 rings on the greystone in the grounds of Harewood house
the north york moors has maybe 4 or 5 rings (need to check this)

I bet its northumberland - but i could be wrong

Cheers
Graeme

Stones Workshop

Hi Folks,

Aron Mazel asked me to inform you as follows:

On 24 June 2009, the public workshop: “Ancient Stone Monuments: Integrating Management Needs and Scientific Analyses” will take place at the newly opened Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle upon Tyne. Only thirty-five places are available for this public event, so pre-booking is required. Download the programme and booking form, and return the booking form by 22 June. If you are unable to attend, but have specific concerns related to the decay of ASMs that could be addressed thought heritage science, then please send them to scienceandheritage@ncl.ac.uk. Time permitting, these concerns will be discussed during the open discussion at the end of the day or during the closed workshop on 25 June. The workshop on 25 June is closed to Cluster participants only.

Click here for the page with the programme and booking form.

This page is part of a new website “Science and Heritage” ; please take a look!

Cheers,

Jan