Blog & lookbook - Pagan Symbolism: Cup Marks

Pagan Symbolism: Cup Marks

Cup Marks, also known as Bowl Marks or Cup Stones, are a common form of Neolithic art. These markings are widespread across Europe and other parts of the world. Although the exact meaning and function of cup marks are still a topic of debate, it is generally believed that they had symbolic or ritual significance for the communities that created them, though they may also have had practical uses.

This blog explores the distribution, characteristics, archaeological interpretation, and possible function of cup marks, with a special focus on the changes that occurred during the transition from the Neolithic to the Copper Age and Early Bronze Age.

Geographic Distribution

Cup marks are found in diverse geographical areas, particularly along the Atlantic coast of Europe, such as in Ireland, Wales, northern England, Scotland, Brittany in France, and parts of Spain and Portugal. However, they are not limited to Western Europe; similar patterns have also been discovered in the Mediterranean region, including Italy, Greece, and Sardinia, as well as in Northern Europe, such as Scandinavia and Switzerland.

Beyond Europe, cup marks have been found in various parts of the world, including Australia, Gabon, Hawaii, India, Israel, Mexico, and Mozambique. The oldest documented examples of cup marks are found in the Fertile Crescent and India, suggesting that these symbols may have deep historical roots.

What Is a 'Cup Mark'?

Cup marks typically consist of small, round depressions in rock surfaces, often surrounded by concentric circles, and sometimes featuring a linear groove radiating outward from the center.

These markings are found on various surfaces, including natural rock formations, worked stones, and megalithic monuments such as stone circles, burial mounds, and passage graves.

The Function of Cup Marks

The exact function of cup marks remains unclear, and their meaning is still debated. The consistency in style and distribution suggests that they may have served a ritual or symbolic role, but practical applications, such as marking important locations, have also been suggested. Some theories, such as those proposed by Alexander Thom, suggest that cup marks were an early form of "writing" or encoding, intended to record information on a stone. Thom also introduced the concept of the "Megalithic Inch," a standard measurement he claimed to recognize in the spacing of the markings. Although this theory was not widely accepted, later studies point to some consistency in the sizes of the depressions, suggesting that basic measuring methods were used and possibly reflecting a shared cultural tradition.

Other interpretations emphasize the ritual and symbolic function of cup marks, associating them with the cosmological beliefs of the communities that created them. The use of cup marks in combination with stone circles aligned to solstices supports this hypothesis. At the same time, it is believed that some cup marks had practical uses, such as holding grinding stones or serving as places for offerings.

Dating cup marks is challenging because the markings were often added later to existing monuments. The oldest examples are dated to the Early Neolithic, while other markings were reused in later periods, such as the Bronze Age. It appears that the tradition of making cup marks originated along the Atlantic coasts and later spread to other regions.

Comparison with Passage Grave Art

Cup marks show clear similarities with Late Neolithic art, such as the spirals and zigzag lines often found on megalithic monuments. However, there are also significant differences. Passage grave art includes a wider range of motifs and often appears to be connected to symbols derived from human imagination, whereas cup marks more closely resemble natural patterns.

In addition, cup marks may be older than passage grave art. Their distribution and meaning point to a more indigenous development, whereas passage grave art was likely introduced from other regions, such as Brittany in France.

Cup Marks in the Early Bronze Age

Between 3000 and 2500 BCE, Proto-Indo-European pastoralists migrated to Europe. This new population, with its dharmic religion and hierarchical structures, may have adopted and adapted existing Neolithic art forms to fit their own cultural context, thereby asserting their authority over the new territories.

An example of reuse is the cup-marked stone from the Nether Largie North Cairn near Kilmartin in Scotland. This stone was decorated in the Neolithic and reused in the Bronze Age as a capstone for a burial mound of a Beaker culture chief.

In the Bronze Age, cup marks may have been used to mark important time points, such as the solstices, or as part of an early calendar. They were sometimes depicted alongside sun crosses, such as in the rock carvings of Tanum in Sweden.

From the Bronze Age onwards, dotted work, point motifs, or cup motifs were regularly incorporated into art. It is possible that this tradition was inspired by cup marks, indirectly influencing art styles into the Early Middle Ages. However, this remains speculative, and the original meaning of cup marks was likely long forgotten.

Conclusion

Cup marks represent a fascinating aspect of prehistoric art, with a wide geographical distribution and potentially profound symbolic meaning.

The exact function of these markings remains unclear, but their consistency and distribution suggest a shared cultural tradition connected to rituals, cosmology, and possibly practical functions. It is likely that they had different functions or meanings in various cultures and time periods.

The reuse of these markings by later communities, such as the Proto-Indo-European pastoralists, suggests that cup marks had a lasting influence on the development of megalithic monuments and art into the Early Bronze Age. They may even have influenced art styles in the Bronze Age and beyond.