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Neolithic Cupmarks from Vasagård on Bornholm, Denmark: Dating the Rock Art Tradition in Southern Scandinavia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2021

Rune Iversen Open the ORCID record for Rune Iversen [Opens in a new window] ,
Michael S. Thorsen  and
Jens-Bjørn Riis Andresen Open the ORCID record for Jens-Bjørn Riis Andresen [Opens in a new window]
Rune Iversen
Affiliation:
The Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Michael S. Thorsen
Affiliation:
Bornholm's Museum, Denmark
Jens-Bjørn Riis Andresen
Affiliation:
School of Culture and Society, Aarhus University, Denmark
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Abstract

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.

Les auteurs de cet article présentent les données leur permettant d'attribuer deux pierres à cupules découvertes dans les fouilles des enceintes préhistoriques de Vasagård sur l’île de Bornholm en Baltique au Néolithique Moyen du sud de la Scandinavie. Jusqu’à présent, on avait surtout associé les cupules, qui ornent fréquemment les dalles de couverture des dolmens, à l'art riche et figuratif de l’âge du Bronze (environ 1700–500 av. J.C.). Les données concernant Vasagård et l'art rupestre sur l’île de Bornholm laissent envisager qu'au moins une partie des pierres à cupules datent du Néolithique. Leur association avec des rassemblements rituels suggère une affinité avec d'autres sites contemporains, dont certains sites des Orcades, où elles semblent marquer des phases de transformation de l'architecture mégalithique. Translation by Madeleine Hummler

Die Angaben von neueren Ausgrabungen auf den neolithischen Grabeneinfassungen und Einzäunungen von Vasagård auf der Insel Bornholm in der Ostsee, welche zwei Schalensteine aufgedeckt haben, legen es nahe, dass es solche Schalensteine schon im Mittelneolithikum in Südskandinavien gab. Man hat die Schalensteine und Schälchen-Verzierungen, die häufig auf den Decksteinen von Dolmen vorkommen, oft mit der reichen und figurativen Felskunst der Bronzezeit (ca. 1700–500 v. Chr.) verbunden. Die Hinweise aus Vasagård und über die Felskunst auf Bornholm lassen es vermuten, dass mindestens einige Schalensteine neolithisch sind. Ihr Zusammenhang mit rituellen Versammlungen deutet auf eine Beziehung mit gleichzeitigen Fundstellen, zum Beispiel auf Orkney, wo die Schalensteine mit der Umgestaltung von Megalithen verknüpft sind. Translation by Madeleine Hummler

Keywords

NeolithicVasagårdBornholmrock artcupmarksNeolithic enclosuresNéolithiqueVasagårdBornholmart rupestrepierres à cupulesenceintes néolithiquesNeolithikumVasagårdBornholmFelskunstSchalensteineneolithische Grabeneinfassungen und Einzäunungen
Type
Article
Information
European Journal of Archaeology , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , May 2022 , pp. 155 - 175
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Association of Archaeologists

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