Engravings are at least 12,800 years old, say scientists

Submitted by PaulM on Friday, 29 April 2005 Page Views: 1499

Prehistoric engravings found at Creswell Crags have been confirmed as the country's oldest examples of rock art. A team of scientists from Bristol, the Open and Sheffield Universities have found that the drawings found in the caves are at least 12,800 years old.

Engravings on the walls and ceilings of the numerous caves were found two years ago. They depict animals such as the European bison, now extinct in this country, and led staff to wonder just how old the art was.

"This is really important to the centre and is the news we have been waiting for," said John Charlesworth, principal heritage ranger at the crags.
"It is confirmation and proof that the art work is the oldest in the country."

Dating the rock was no easy task for the scientists involved with the project.

But the team from the three universities managed to pull it off by measuring tiny traces of radioactive uranium in thin limestone crusts (like stalagmites and stalagtites) that had formed over the drawings.

"It is rare to be able to scientifically date rock art and we were very fortunate some of the engravings were covered by thin flowerstones," said Dr Alistair Pike, an archaeological scientist from the University of Bristol.
"The type of art work on show at Creswell reveals a close connection between Magdalenian peoples stretching over a massive range."

And it is hoped that the huge announcement will help boost the crags' profile as one of area's best known spots.

"The announcement also helps to confirm our position amongst the world wide community of sites with Ice Age art work," said Mr Charlesworth.

Artefacts left by Ice Age hunters have also been discovered at the site. The latest results indicate the art was probably left by the group of people who made the artefacts.

And Worksop folk will get a rare opportunity to have a look at the ancient art from next month.

The Creswell Heritage Trust, a partnership organisation, which manages the site, is running special tours to see the art from 28th May to 12th June.

A platform has been erected in Church Hole Cave (one of the main caves with art work) allowing visitors to view the engravings.

The rock art discoveries will also be the centre pieces in the site's proposed museum and education centre, for which the trust has received an in principal offer of £4.2 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

"We are hopefully getting a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and it will really help us as we develop the site," said Mr Charlesworth.

It is hoped that the new centre will be open by the summer of 2007.

Source: Worksop Today 29 April 2005

Contributor Bio for PaulM: Based in Macclesfield, contributing since 2002. Favourite site: Hordron Edge. Occupation: Something in waste and recycling.

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