A bit weathered, but this is a cup marked stone. I’ve tried to give a sense of the landscape it is in – whether the landscape was quite as open when the cups were carved I couldn’t tell you.
The marks are reckoned to be around 4000-5000 years old. There is a high occurrence of them in North and West Yorkshire. I came upon this one when out looking for photographic subjects – first I’ve seen. It’s pretty much worn and I’ve had to use a hand held flash to the left to try to give some contrast across the impressions made by our ancestors.
——–Stephen———
Stephen G Hipperson 
I had never heard of these before and had to look up what they were. Fascinating stuff. Thanks.
The ordnance survey maps for that particular area are peppered with ‘cup and ring stones’ (as individual rocks are named), it was inevitable that I would happen upon one eventually.
Great landscape lovely view – maybe it could be from the ice age – I don’t know if there has been ice there which could been able to toil on the stones..? 🙂
I’ve no doubt the rock was dropped by a glacier as the ice retreated North again but the marks are definitely man made. This one is a rather poor example – others have rings too and occasionally swirls.
I had no idea, thanks for educating me. The addition of light really helps bring out the cup marks.
We have the advantage of having had people map Britain in the past – the outcome a set of ‘Ordnance Survey’ maps which are updated regularly. As you can appreciate we are a relatively small island with a long history, so there are all sorts of marks left by those in the past – anything that is still indicated in the landscape is captured in the maps.
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magnifique ce paysage
It can be very bleak in the winter months – the ground is quite open and there is no protection from the weather.
I like how you caught this scene: the low hills mimic the divots of the “cups” and carry the eye through.
Thank you.
I was lucky on that day because of the clarity of the air.
Intriguing subject, well shown. We have some similar features here in California that I’ve run across while hiking but the ones you’ve shown are thousands of years older and look it. What a forlorn stretch of country.
You certainly wouldn’t want to be walking there without some protection from the weather, but in comparison to the places around you, it’s a walk in the park.
Beautiful vista. The “open-ness” of the land reminds me of the plains in Wyoming and Montana.
The wide angle lens I used gives a bit more grandeur than is the reality.
Interesting. And curious. And somewhat mind boggling, being so ancient – have to wonder just what they were for, why they were carved.
Absolutely!
Of course there’s project begging to go and photograph them all…….. not at the moment methinks.
Are you sure, Stephen … Might take you to some interesting and probably particularly scenic spots …
You’re quite right, of course – but at this particular moment in my life it sounds a bit too ‘anorak’ to me – a bit like train spotting – not my cup of tea. 😉
Of course, that doesn’t mean to say I wouldn’t search the odd rock out, if I’m in the area.
Excellent shot Stephen..
Thanks!
Great use of flash! I never would have guessed there was a flash involved in this shot, which is just the way it should be.
Thank you.
I was quite pleased with the outcome.
Very nice photograph. The enhancement from the flash is quite helpful. Add to that a wonderful bit of our history too! I learned something today.
🙂
Fascinating! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
🙂
Lovely shot – I like the lines and layers in this, a real sense of depth to the image.
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