Rivington Cup Marked Stone

The only prehistoric rock art recognised as being authentic in the Rivington area, was found at an undisclosed location near the banks of the Lower Rivington Reservoir. The carved stone fragment is in the form of a small boulder, smoothed and worn in a similar manner to many of the boulders found around the reservoirs or in stream beds and was probably used in the construction of the reservoir, the significant markings unnoticed.

The visible portion of the design of the artwork on the stone features the familiar “Cup and Ring” markings that are fairly simple, with only a single expample of a ring mark - although we are seeing only a fragment of the full design. However, the number and proximity of the many cup marks is notable and perhaps less commonly for this type of artefact, the cup marks themselves seem to have been used to form a larger pattern of which a section of arc is clearly visible today.

The Rivington Cup Marked Stone is located in the Anderton Centre as part of a forlorn display of a few shrubs and a couple of other non-descript boulders of the local stone, surrounded by garden ornament type gravel. One can imagine that when it was completed the display was a bland and unimaginitive “corporate” style car park ornament, today it is seemingly forgotten. There are no signs or information regarding this important and unique example of local prehistoric art on site and interested parties are required to trespass in order to see it locked away in a car park.

This artefact should be moved to a public place, to be viewed by anyone. It is our ancestral heritage.

Created: 27  November  2016  Edited: 29  November  2023