Marks of contemplation

Abstract

Much of the power and appeal of rock-art sites comes from their location. Landscape becomes a very important issue when dealing with rock-art, as the outlook from and to a rock-art site, and position in the landscape may give some clues as to function, which could in turn give us some ideas as to how it may have been interpreted. This article looks at the similarities in landscape locations chosen by the Irish Bronze Age artists, and the Australian Aboriginal ‘Panaramitee’ artists. Both have chosen sites that hold a commanding view that are within 50 m of a water source, and on rock outcrops rather than in caves or shelters. The similarities are not just confined to landscape. Many of the rock-art motifs used are visually similar. Could these similarities in landscape emplacement and appearance suggest a similar use, and perhaps meaning to those who created it? Surely we are only getting a fraction of the aesthetic value of rock-art when we ignore its meaning and use.

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