Neolithic Cupmarks from Vasagård on Bornholm, Denmark: Dating the Rock Art Tradition in Southern Scandinavia

Researchers have uncovered the first evidence of cupmarks dating to the Middle Neolithic period (c. 3500–2800 BC) in southern Scandinavia, specifically on Bornholm, Denmark. Previously, cupmarks—small, circular depressions often found on dolmen capstones—were thought to be exclusively associated with Bronze Age rock art (c. 1700–500 BC). The discovery of two cupmarked stones at the Neolithic enclosures of Vasagård challenges this long-held assumption, suggesting that such markings may have originated earlier in the region's prehistory. Excavations at Vasagård revealed these stones in a context linked to ritual gatherings, hinting at a possible connection to broader Neolithic practices, including those observed at UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Orkney, where cupmarks are tied to monumental architecture and ceremonial transformations.

Iversen, R., Thorsen, M. S., & Andresen, J.-B. R. (2021). Neolithic Cupmarks from Vasagård on Bornholm, Denmark: Dating the Rock Art Tradition in Southern Scandinavia. European Journal of Archaeology, 25(2), 155–175. https://doi.org/10.1017/eaa.2021.49