The prehistoric rocks on Rombalds Moor of national significance

Situated between the valleys of the Wharfe and the Aire, Rombalds Moor, which includes the infamous Iklely Moor, features more than 400 known rock carvings, as well as burial monuments, stone circles and a range of enclosed settlements.

According to the public body Historic England, prehistoric rock carving is found across several parts of upland Britain, on boulders and outcrops scattered among the moorland. One of the densest concentrations is on Rombalds Moor.

“The most common form of decoration is the `cup and ring’ mark,” it explains. “Expanses of small cup-like hollows, which may be surrounded by one or more `rings’, are pecked into the surface of the rock. Other shapes and patterns, including some dominated by grooves or lines, are also known.”

It is thought the carvings date back to between 2800 and 500 BC, the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. Little is known about the meaning of the designs, though they have been interpreted in many cases as sacred or religious symbols and are said to offer an insight into prehistoric art.

The rocks pictured here, on the moorland above Silsden, are listed as a scheduled monument by the body, meaning they are considered to be of national importance. The eroded pillars are known as the Doubler Stones.

One of the rocks has a large number of cups, as well as grooves and deep basins. The other has two larger cups. Their strange mushroom shape is said to be due to the fact that the top part of the pillar is a harder stone whilst the lower part is an easily eroded stone.

Of course, the rocks are not the only impressive historic formation to be situated on the moorland, the most famous perhaps being the Cow and Calf Rocks at Ilkley.

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