Cup-Marked Stone: OS Grid Reference – SE 10879 51405
Archaeology & History
This carving was discovered very recently following an exploration of recognised sites on Middleton Moor by rock art student Mike Short on March 28, 2010. Found amidst a cluster of other carved rocks, it was located after he noticed a small piece of stone poking out of the peat and — as happens to those folk obsessed by these ‘ere carvings — he decided to dig round the stone and cut the turf back to see if there was anything carved on the rock, as there are other cup-and-rings are close by. Thankfully, after a bit of effort digging round the stone, Mike found the carving we see in the images here! (courtesy of Mike and Richard Stroud). With a distinctly ‘facial’ appearance (hence the name), the following notes were written describing the new find:
“Small roughly oval dome-shaped medium grit rock approx. 49cm X 36cm, at and below soil level. Two cups, one of which is conical and deep (55mm deep and 65-75mm diameter) and of similar profile to one of the cups on No. 458; small shallow bowl-like depression with possible peck marks; curving groove on northern edge.”
When Mike finished with their drawings and measurements, the stone was covered back over and left in situ. Although I aint seen the carving ‘in the flesh’ misself yet (we’re gonna have a look next week) it gives me the impression it had some association with burials.
References:
- Short, Mike & Stroud, Richard, “Report of New Carved Rock (‘Caspar’) on Middleton Moor,” April 2010.
© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian
Hello Paul, I can’t claim any glory for this whatsoever, apart from the grid ref 🙂
Agree with you about the likely burial context given its look, size, plus proximity to a unrecorded cairn like structure 2m E. The design reminded me of ‘Smiley’ with a curving enhanced groove enclosing a higher part of the stone. Really is a lovely looking thing in the flesh and is probably the only piece of rock art to make me laugh…
Rich
Ey up Rich!
So should I edit the “discoverers” bit? Just Mike wozzit? Lemme know & I’ll amend the info. 🙂
We’re gonna be up Beamsley Beacon & Middleton Moor this Thursday to have a look round. I don’t like the sound of the defaced carvings up there though… Sounds a wee bit odd.
atb – Paul
Yep Paul, I was about 13 miles south when Mike discovered the two new ones – I just helped him record them a week or so later.
Whilst on Beamsley, if you pass the Old Pike Cairn, take a look at the cup and poss ring we spotted N of the upright about 5 years ago. We dismissed it then as being recent (previous few years) but ‘tas now gone into the record as bona fide.