The Past, Present and Future of Rock Art Research in Scotland

Abstract

There is considerable value then in examining Scotland’s prehistoric carvings from the perspective of landscapes, archaeology, discovery and research specific to this country, both for appreciating diversity within Scotland, and for informing studies of British and European rock art. The following account reviews the development of knowledge and understanding of Scotland’s rock art. It draws on multiple sources, including preliminary results from work by Scotland’s Rock Art Project (ScRAP), a five-year (2017-2021) Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded programme to enhance understanding, awareness and value of prehistoric rock art in Scotland through community co-production and research.2 First, we consider how knowledge has been constructed over the last 200 years. We then examine the state of rock art data today, and its implications for research. Finally, we discuss research trajectories, highlighting how work in Scotland has contributed to current understanding, before concluding with some remarks on future directions and longer-term aspirations. Although relevant to the themes discussed in this paper, management and sustainability concerns are covered only briefly.

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