Newly Found Cave Drawings Are Rewriting Our Knowledge Of An Ancient Culture

While relics of ancient peoples can be found scattered all across Scotland, one of their greatest concentrations is in Kilmartin Glen. This site near the country’s western coast has a reputation as a historical hotbed, and it has been studied by multitudes of archaeologists, historians, and other scientists. Because the area is so heavily scrutinized, there was widespread shock when a local stumbled across one of the most significant archaeological finds in recent Scottish history. The uncovered cave drawings brought a new understanding about the civilization which once populated the area.

Previous cave drawings

Before a hiker accidentally made a major contribution to the study of early Scottish history, the cave drawings unearthed by researchers tended to consist solely of patterned works. Prehistoric art found at Kilmartin Glen was best-known for its concentric circles offset by wide lines. This distinct pattern wasn’t limited to the glen, though.

Common yet mysterious

These “cup-and-ring-marks” have been found drawn all across Great Britain. But though they’re prevalent, not much is clear about the meaning behind them. “While many of these mysterious carvings can still be seen in the open landscape today, we know little about how they were used, or what purpose they served,” government agency Historic Environment Scotland stated.

Loving that design

Researchers have recorded a few thousand separate stones in Scotland with similar prehistoric scratchings. For some reason, the people who decided to carve into the rock were obsessed with making cup-and-ring-marks. These are by far the most commonplace patterns in the country. 

Widespread use

There were other ancient societies carving the same symbol throughout Scandinavia and Iberia, so the practice wasn’t limited to the United Kingdom. It’s unclear if this was a shared design or if multiple civilizations underwent a parallel, but independent historical evolution. With this global spread, the mark must have had some kind of significant meaning.