cupmark

A cupmark, or cup mark, is a shallow, circular hollow carved into rock surfaces. Cupmarks can occur singly or in clusters and are often part of broader rock-art traditions such as cup-and-ring marks. They vary in size but commonly range from about 2 to 4 centimeters in diameter and up to several centimeters in depth; some cups are larger or shallower. The surfaces are usually weathered rock, and the marks are created by percussion or abrasion with stone, antler, or other tools through pecking, grinding, or a combination of methods.

Cupmarks are found across Europe, with particularly strong concentrations on the Atlantic fringe and in the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland, and also in parts of continental Europe such as Brittany and Iberia, as well as in Scandinavia. They are generally dated to the late Neolithic to Bronze Age, roughly from 3500 to 1000 BCE, though individual examples may lie outside this span.

Most cupmarks are solitary, but many appear in groups, forming patterns, rows, or circular/annular motifs where one or more cups are surrounded by a ring. The term cup-and-ring marks refers to marks with rings around cups; pure cupmarks lack such rings.

Interpretations of their function are not settled. Theories include ritual or ceremonial use, territorial or boundary marking, symbolic or cosmological significance, or calendrical/astronomical purposes. Modern work relies on field surveys, detailed drawings, photography, and digital recording to document sites, and preservation efforts seek to protect many cupmarked features from weathering and damage.