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Couple and child?
(three double spirals on C10, Newgrange)

The main question with regard to megalithic art (petroglyphs from neolithic times) is of course; what does it mean? Lots of books are discussing this subject, like the book The stars and the stones of M. Brennan and the book Irish symbols of 3500 BC of N.L. Thomas

It seems that the buildings (like Newgrange, Knowth, Loughcrew, etc.) which have art on its stones, could be aligned to mark some important moments in the year. Possibly like a kind of calendar (remember there were then no clocks, agenda's and others means to mark time). So these buildings were perhaps used as big sundials and/or libraries of knowledge.
The pictures carved in the stones (petroglyphs) that make the walls, could indicate towards astronomical knowledge. But the question still remains what knowledge do these pictures precisely represent, if they represent knowledge!

To help generate ideas, please look at the ideas of the below mentioned people (in order of publication date, more books on this subject are listed in my virtual library). The definition of terms used within my web site can be found on this page.
It are summaries (so made under my own responsibility) of some books on megalithic art. The summaries look at: motifs, symbols, alignments/directions, calendars, interesting issues, questions to authors, etc. Myths are not yet covered in the summaries (which could of course be important for understanding the art)!

• J. Streit [1977]^*
• E.S. Twohig [1981]^*
• M.J. and C. O'Kelly [1982] and [1983]
• M. Brennan [1983]^*
• G. Eogan [1986]^*
• N.L. Thomas [1988] and [2000]^*
• J.L. Davidson and A.S. Henshell [1989]
• M. Gimbutas [1989]
• T. O'Brien [1992]^*
• J. McMann [1993]
• K. Hedge [1994]
• III Coloquio Internacional sobre Arte Megalíticti [1994]
• J. Dronfield [1995] and [1996]
  
• W. Battersby [1997] and [1999]^*
• (eds) C. Chippindale and P. Taçon [1998]
• C. Knight and R. Lomas [1999]^*
• R. de Jonge and J.S. Wakefield [2002]
• K. L. Callahan [2003]
  
• Taphonomic logic in megalithic art
• if you think that my summeries need a change, please let me know!
• other publications which are interesting, please let me know!
• e-mail reactions of others (if you want to send your ideas, please do)

My ideas, partially made up from the above ideas, can be found on this page.

• Rock Art: Petroglyphs and Pictographs links
• The IFRAO Rock Art Glossary
• Irish-stones: discussion forum on Irish megalithic buildings
• E-mail distribution list on rock art: ROCK-ART@ASU.EDU
• Steven J. Waller's rock art acoustic page

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