Cup and ring marked rock on Tod Crag

Around 800 examples of prehistoric rock-art have been recorded in England. This is unlikely to be a realistic reflection of the number carved in prehistory. Many will have been overgrown or destroyed in activities such as quarrying. All positively identified prehistoric rock art sites exhibiting a significant group of designs will normally be identified as nationally important.

The cup and ring marks on Tod Crag are particularly well defined and are good examples of their type. They will add to our knowledge and understanding of prehistoric rock art in Britain.

The monument includes a series of cup and ring marks situated on a natural shelf of sandstone on the northern edge of a rocky plateau known as Tod Crag. The visible part of the outcrop, which measures 3m by 1.5m, bears a scatter of at least 23 circular depressions, or cup marks, formed by chipping the rock surface with a hand tool. The cups vary in size but are on average 7cm-8cm in diameter with the largest measuring 12cm and the smallest 3cm. At least six of the cups are surrounded by concentric double rings similarly pecked out of the sandstone; these cups with rings form an outer arc to the apparently random pattern of carvings. Two other cups are surrounded by single rings and three of those surrounded by rings also have narrow ducts running from their centre. Further carvings may exist on the surface of the outcrop which is still covered by vegetation.