cupandring

Cupandring refers to a form of prehistoric rock art consisting of cup-shaped depressions carved into rock surfaces, frequently grouped together and sometimes surrounded by a circular ring or linked by shallow channels. The term encompasses both simple cup marks and more complex cup-and-ring patterns, where several cups are arranged within or around a ring.

These markings are found across Atlantic Europe, with high concentrations in Ireland, Great Britain, Brittany, and parts of the Iberian Peninsula, and they also appear in other regions of Europe and beyond. They are generally dated to the late Neolithic to early Bronze Age, roughly between 3500 and 1500 BCE, although the precise chronology varies by site and is often debated due to erosion and limited contextual data.

Cup-and-ring motifs vary in size and arrangement. Some features consist of a single cup, while others form dense clusters. Rings may encircle one or more cups, and some examples include interconnecting lines or multiple rings. The carvings are typically shallow and created by repeated pecking or abrading with stone tools, and they are frequently located on open rock faces, boulders, or outcrops that were accessible to communities over long periods.

The function and meaning of cup-and-ring marks remain uncertain. Theories propose ceremonial or ritual roles, territorial markers, or astronomical or calendrical significance, but there is no consensus. Conservation concerns arise because weathering and human activity threaten many sites, which are protected as archaeological monuments in several countries.