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Rock Art Mystery
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FourWinds
FourWinds
10943 posts

Re: What!
Oct 11, 2003, 09:19
Well, no it isn't some arcane knowledge. It seems to be done by associated finds, nearby settlements etc. All they mean is that it's AT LEAST that old.

I think a lot of the dating comes from bad work in Ireland. Most of the rock art that was originally known about was in Cork/Kerry and so a copper association was 'created'. Hence "Bronze Age innit!"

But remember, Newgrange was attributed to the Danes until the mid 20th century!!! The Dublin-centric (hence Anglo-centric) archaeos would not give the 'primitive Irish' the credit on principal. They decided that the finest was built first and all the other lesser ones to the west were poor copies. It is now realised that Newgrange et al were the glorious culmination of the tradition.

Although rock art is very distinct from passage tomb art it does not mean they weren't comtemporary. Court tombs and portal tombs were being built side by side at the same time (different style for different cult or different purpose? - we'll probably never know fo sure)

If we are to use associated monuments to date other monuments then we're in the shit. Many Raths built or still used in the 9th C incorporate rock art or standing stones. Many 6th C church sites have bullauns and standing stones.

The only datable rock art (not passage tomb art) I can think of are the turoe stone and the Castlestrange stone and that's because the patterns are La Tene and can be dated by similar work on swords etc.

Come on! How do you date rock art?
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Re: What! (Hob)		 Replies:
Re: What! (AtomicMutton)
Re: What! (Hob)
Re: What! (nigelswift)
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