Rock Carvings on the North York Moors
Over fifty years ago Frank Elgee (1) noted a cupstone in a drystone
wall near the prehistoric settlement on Westerdale moor.
In November 1999 this single cup mark was noted on a flat rock at the base
of the drystone wall on the south side of the moor. Though slightly
eroded, the pick marks are still visible within the cup.
This may well have been the cup stone seen by Elgee as it is located by
the footpath up onto the moor, and if the carving had consisted of more
that a single cup mark, then Elgee would most likely have recorded it in
more detail.
The "settlement" up on the moor top consists of a large stone
banked enclosure and other earthworks, plus a standing stone and a large
number of cairns. Several stones may also have had single cup marks but
due to their eroded condition, these could also be natural weathering.
(1)Frank Elgee (1930), Early Man in North-east Yorkshire.
