Neolithic Cupmarks from Vasagård on Bornholm, Denmark

Dating the Rock Art Tradition in Southern Scandinavia

Dados Bibliográficos

ID7175167
AutoresRune Iversen (0000-0001-7618-625X, University of Copenhagen, autor correspondente), Michael S Thorsen, J Andresen (0000-0003-1435-6668, Aarhus University)
Ano2021
Volume25
Fascículo2
Páginas155-175
Data de publicação2021-10-13
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoEuropean Journal of Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1461-9571 • E-ISSN: 1741-2722
EditoraCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/eaa.2021.49
OpenAlexW3207203324
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas4
Referências citadas30

This article presents the first evidence for cupmarks in the southern Scandinavian Middle Neolithic, in the form of two cupmarked stones recovered during excavations at the Neolithic enclosures of Vasagård on the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. Until now, cupmarks, which are frequently found on dolmen capstones, have been associated with the rich and figurative rock art known from the Bronze Age ( c . 1700–500 bc ). The evidence from Vasagård opens up the possibility that more cupmarks could be Neolithic. The association of the cupmarked stones from Vasagård with ritual gatherings suggests an affinity with contemporary sites, including Orkney, where cupmarks have been linked to architectural transformations

Ancient history · Archaeology · Baltic sea · Bronze Age · Excavation · Geography · Rock art · History · Geology