Hi Folks
The photographs show a new discovery in an area of the Lake District not known for Rock Art
The site at the foot of Windermere is a small boulder fragment built into a field wall
The pecked oval is 10×7cm this may not be in isolation it is our intention to revisit and research the area
In hope of more discoveries
Stoneman
October 14, 2007 at 13:47
Hi Stoneman,
I wonder how many stones with rock art have been placed another way round, so the art is not visible – though I’m not suggesting tearing down all the walls! I hope this is not too naive a question, but how sure can you be that this is rock art? Is there not a possibility that the stone was gouged out for some practical building purpose – such as part of a gate hinge mechanism?
October 14, 2007 at 17:05
Hi Paul,
I found a similar carving on a field clearance pile just above the Eamont close to Sockbridge. I’ll see if I can find a picture.
cheers
Gavin
October 15, 2007 at 09:47
Hello Richard
Single cups on rocks can be subjective unless peck marks are visible, the oval although quite shallow exhibits peck marks these are rounded in appearance typical of those made by a stone tool and not sharp edged if chipped with a metal tool
I eliminated this to be a pivot stone for some of the following reasons
There are peck marks made with a stone tool within the oval
Pivot stones have round deep holes showing abrasion from the metal rod
Although the wall has been repaired in the past using mortar in the reconstruction most pivot stones are left buried in place
The stone may have been quarried from a local outcrop/ boulder or from a destroyed cairn ?
Hi Gavin
Look forward to see the oval marked stone, there are a number of pecked ovals on the outcrops at Crookabeck in Ullswater
Best Paul
November 17, 2007 at 10:54
Hi Paul,
I can’t find a copy of the Sockbridge stone but I did find a picture of a similar stone in the Whitby Museum’s collection
http://images.fotopic.net/yqroja.jpg
cheers
Gavin