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Celtic Radio Community > Scotland > Prehistoric rock art in scotland |
Posted by: rockartuk 07-Feb-2002, 06:37 AM |
Hi Folks! We are new to this great forum; time for a brief introduction. We manage a community website about prehistoric abstract rock art in Scotland and England. These enigmatic carvings were made by our ancient ancestors in the late Stone- and early Bronze Age. They are about 5000 years old and are still there, in the beautiful Scottish landscape. And although the meaning of these motifs is lost, it is the earliest communication with the people of the deep past. Please find some time to enjoy these "images of a lost message". Hope to hear/see you. Gus van Veen & Jan Brouwer, The Netherlands. http://communities.msn.com/rockartinthebritishlandscape |
Posted by: kylassie 07-Feb-2002, 10:55 AM |
Welcome to the message board! I just saw a program on the History Channel (or was it Discovery?) that dealt specifically with the ancient Celtic Rock Art. The program showed how it is entirely possible that the ancient Celts were world-class Astronomers, right up there with the Ancient Egyptians and Olmec Indians of Mexico. I find the entire subject intriguing to say the least! Slainte, Janet aka Kentucky Lassie |
Posted by: Macfive 07-Feb-2002, 11:13 AM |
Welcome aboard Rockartuk! Glad that you have decided to join our forum! We are extremely interested in your work, especially involving the Celts rock work. Please, please! anyone reading this message thread visit their website. They have some wonderful examples of rock work and on top of that seem like two really nice guys! Again, welcome to the Highlander Radio forum! |
Posted by: rockartuk 07-Feb-2002, 05:12 PM |
Hi Janet and Paul, Thanks for the warm welcome! The rock art we're dealing with was made in the Megalithic period, starting in Atlantic Europe at about 6000BC after the ice melted away. These people preceded the Bronze Age Beaker People and the Celts who emerged from central Europe and spread in all directions. So when the Celts finally reached England, Scotland and Ireland, they must have noticed the carvings on outcrop rock and boulders as well as, of course, the stone circles and standing stones. The Megalithic and Beaker people were long gone by then. So the sequence must have looked like this: Megalithic People (passage graves, stone circles, standing stones, abstract rock art) followed by the Beaker People (decorated beakers, cairns, stone burial cists) followed by the Celts (great jewels and decorated -copper- weapons) followed by the Picts (figurative decorated stones; horses/comb/mirror/etc and their decorated bodies). They were driven North by the invading Romans in 50BC. After te Romans the Vikings invaded the UK, later followed bij the Anglo-Saxons. They all must have noticed the same rock art in the landscape as we do now in 2002. But the meaning of the abstract motifs has been lost in time and space. There are however a lot of -wild?- guesses (see our website). And the nice thing is that everybody is right, because not a single meaning is -nor will be- proven! Look at our photos and give your own meaning (or vote for one). But above all; enjoy these carvings for their beauty and connection to the ancient landscape. Oeps....long story! This subject will easily carry you away from everydays life! It would be great if you posted your impressions in this forum. Bye for now and rocking greetings. Gus & Jan |
Posted by: Macfive 14-Feb-2002, 03:31 PM |
You two sound like you have a wealth of knowledge on ancient histories! I thorough enjoyed reading this short description and will definitely be spending some quality time at your site. Tell me, are the Megalithic people part of the lost civilization I keep reading about on-line and on TV shows. One particular author, can not remember is name, believes that 1000’s of years ago there was a great civilization that abruptly ended through some horrific event, not leaving a trace of their existence except for the knowledge of the stars and mathematics that they might have passed down to other civilizations. To me, this is a fascinating topic and one that I was wondering if you had any thoughts on? |
Posted by: Aragorn 28-Feb-2005, 09:48 AM |
It is really fasinating to see such art created on stones and so long ago. Even 5000 years ago there was a need to express ones self. I too would love to learn more about the people behind the art. What a wonderful find...I sure hope Gus or Jan can come back and enlighten us more on this subject. |