Archaeologists discover decorated sandstone boulder at Eddisbury Hillfort, Delamere, Cheshire
Archaeologists from the Cheshire West and Chester Habitats and Hillforts team have discovered an example of Portable Art dating between the Late Neolithic and the Late Bronze Age (c. 3000 – 700 BC). The discovery was made when an old red sandstone boulder measuring roughly 56 x 42 x 28 cm was recovered from an excavation within the entrance area of Eddisbury Hillfort, on one of its surfaces there are multiple cupmark engravings.
The series of motifs are usually associated with Neolithic/Bronze Age burial-ritual found within or close to cairns and barrows. Three deeply gouged cupmarks arranged into an equal-lateral triangle are located on an elevated section of the upper surface; each measuring between 5cm and 6cm in diameter. A smaller, shallower fourth cupmark measuring c. 3 cm in diameter is located between the tri-group and a larger cupmark. To the left of the tri-group is a large shallow slightly ovate cupmark that measures 19cm x 16 cm in diameter. This larger cupmark may have functioned as a mortar for grinding ingredients for making medicines or magical potions?
Said Dr George Nash Department of Archaeology & Anthropology, University of Bristol
“In my view, the date of the Eddisbury Hill boulder is probably
Middle (c. 1500 to 1000 BCE) to late Bronze Age (c. 1000 to 700
BCE), although one cannot discount an earlier date. This assumption
is based on many decorated boulders (with cupmarks) found
elsewhere, in particular, from northern Britain.
In comparison to other decorated boulders and stones found in
Britain, the Eddisbury Hill boulder can be considered one of a
group of portable stones that contains simple multiple motifs of
varying size; a rare occurrence in the northern Marches. A
large number of hillforts (or hill enclosures) both inside and
outside the Welsh Marches show clear evidence of earlier
prehistoric activity with the survival of Early and Middle Bronze
Age barrows and cairns for example. These earlier sites
appear to have commanded respect by Iron Age fort builders and
users. If this is the case, it is conceivable that further
decorated stones from Eddisbury Hillfort await future discovery.
“
Prehistoric rock-art from the Welsh Marches is infrequent with only three sites recorded north of the Welsh Marches: Caer Alyn Hillfort (Wrexham), The Calderstones (Liverpool) and a recent discovery on the Wirral. A further five sites are known in Herefordshire and three in Gloucestershire. No sites are recorded in Shropshire and until the discovery of the boulder at Eddisbury Hillfort, no sites were recorded in Cheshire. Therefore, the Eddisbury Hill boulder is a significant discovery. Three decorated boulders and stones originate from hillfort sites: Nottingham Hillfort (Gloucestershire), Caer Alyn Hillfort (Wrexham) and Eddisbury Hillfort; each discovered stone possessing cupmarks.
The gouged cupmarks and the way they are arranged on the Eddisbury Hill boulder have similarities with cupmark arrangements on several stones from the Calderstones monument in Liverpool.
Said Cllr Andrew Needham
“This is a fascinating discovery and the first find of this kind in
Cheshire. I hope more will be revealed after further study and that
we will be able to exhibit the boulder for more people to
see”
