Good recording is essential. If we are to improve our understanding, knowledge, and sustainability of our prehistoric rock art, we need a detailed record of every carved rock surface in Scotland. We also need a better idea of where the rock art is (and where it is not) located so we can learn more about its relationship with the landscape, and its importance for the people that created it.
WHY RECORD ROCK ART?
Rock art recording aims to:
Collect data for research to improve our understanding of how and why rock art was created and used
Create a lasting record of material that may become damaged or destroyed. This information can also be used to help preserve and protect the rock art through monitoring, conservation and protection.
Provide information for education and public awareness.
WHAT METHODS ARE USED TO RECORD ROCK ART?
The way that we record rock art has changed dramatically in the last decade or so as our attitudes and technology have developed. There has also been a shift in what we record. Rather than only studying the carvings, researchers are now interested in a more holistic view that includes the rock surface, the physical setting, and the relationship with other archaeological features. Traditionally, documentation focused on the motifs and their arrangement on the rock surface. This information was usually captured through visual techniques such as drawing, rubbing, tracing, or even taking casts to make replicas of the carvings. These approaches are not ideal as they often miss out important information and their accuracy varies. They can also damage the rock surface, particularly if repeated several times on the same panel. You can find out more about these approaches in our notes on traditional recording methods.
We now have better tools for recording which enable everyone to capture detailed information of the carvings and their contexts quickly and accurately. This technology is evolving rapidly, and there may well be new developments over the next few years that we can experiment within this project.
HOW DID WE RECORD SCOTLAND’S ROCK ART?
Between 2017 and 2021 we worked with trained Community Teams across Scotland to investigate and record over 1600 prehistoric carved rocks. The Teams documented panels that are already known, many of which had very limited accessible information, and also searched for unrecorded rock art. We used the same methods to record each rock art panel. This enabled us to compare and analyse the carvings, and produce detailed information available for research, management, and public interest.
The most important rule for rock art documentation is that it should be entirely non-destructive. Rock art is a very fragile resource and any impact on it contributes to its decay. Our recording methods were built on previous experiences with similar community initiatives, such as the Northumberland and Durham Rock Art Project (NADRAP), and the Carved Stones Investigations: Rombalds Moor Project. You can find out more about these projects on the England’s Rock Art website. Our methods included:
You can find out more about these techniques and how to use them in our Fieldwork section. If you would like to look for rock art, you can find more information on our Finding rock art page.
