Help
About the Data
The ERA database incorporates data from more than one source and, whilst efforts have been made to integrate these sources as far as possible, there are some fields where they differ. Individual contributors may also have added new records, or updated original ones providing a chronology which allows us to observe changes.
Northumberland
For rock art in Northumberland, the ERA database provides access to baseline data and visual media collected by the NADRAP volunteers between 2004 and 2008, and also to records and images from the Beckensall Archive, collected by Stan Beckensall and Aron Mazel. A significant period may have elapsed between the collection of these two sets of data, and records of the same panel may differ due to erosion or cover with vegetation; some may have been destroyed or lost. The effects of weathering, of human and animal impacts and especially the presence of biological growths such as lichen, moss or turf may have resulted in motifs becoming obscured or, in some cases, revealed. Changes in lighting may also affect what is visible.
Photogrammetry models now provide the most accurate record of the panel, but some details may have been lost over time; historical drawings therefore provide a valuable snapshot. The availability of two records of different dates provides a unique opportunity to observe how panels may have changed over time.
County Durham
The baseline records for rock art in CountyDurham were all created by the NADRAP volunteers between 2004 and 2008.
Searching the Database
There are a number of ways to find records in the database:
Quick Search
The Quick Search box can be found in the upper right corner of the ERA Home page. You can type a term directly into the box to perform a '' search or, if you move your cursor over the box the options will become available.
Your search will return a .
Browse
The Browse option provides a quick and easy way to access broad categories of records within the database. It is available from the ERA Home page when you move your cursor over the box, and also from the left hand menu in the Access ERA section of the website.
A number of browse categories are available. Select the category of interest and drill down the hierarchical groups to find a selection of interest.
For example, if you select Current Location, then the following path may be followed:
When you select a term with a magnifying glass symbol the database will be searched for records matching this criteria and a will be returned.
Basic Search
The Basic Search provides a rapid way to carry out simple searches for records which match your criteria for selected fields, e.g. Panel Name, Panel Type, Current Location, Keyword.
Select Basic Search from the left hand menu in the Access ERA section.
For most fields you should select your search terms from the drop-down lists provided.
For Panel Name, Grid Reference and Keyword you may enter text directly.
Panel Name
As you begin to enter text, a list of options will appear on the left of the screen to help you identify specific Panel Names on the database. The can be selected at any point by clicking on the name of interest.
Note: only one full panel name can be searched using the Basic Search Form. To search on multiple panel names you should use the . It is possible to widen searches by using just the stem of the Panel name. E,g. a search for ‘weetwood’ will return records for ‘WeetwoodBridge portable’, ‘Weetwood Cairn’, ‘Weetwood Clavering’ etc.
For clusters of panels with the same Panel Name but different numerical references, e.g. Barningham Moor 1, Barningham Moor 2, the omission of the specific panel number will result in the retrieval of all panels in the group. E.g. a search for ‘Weetwood Moor ‘ will retrieve ‘Weetwood Moor 1a‘,‘Weetwood Moor 1b‘,‘Weetwood Moor 1c‘ etc.
Keyword
The Keyword search looks for your term(s) in an index created from all the ‘free text’ fields in the database, including the Panel Name and all the ‘Notes’ fields (for panels in Northumberland this includes the Beckensall Notes fields)
To carry out a Keyword search, type your term or terms in either upper or lower case.
Multiple terms
You can search for multiple terms, separated by either a comma or a space. By default, ERA returns records that include ALL of your search terms in any order. E.g. weetwood,cairn will return records where both terms appear in any of the fields listed above. To widen your search, select the ANY toggle. This will return records where any of your terms appear. To narrow your search, select the EXACT toggle. This will return only records where all of your terms appear in the specified order.
Details of search retrieval rules
The ANY and ALL options apply the following retrieval rules:
Word variations - stem searching
When appropriate, ERA it will search not only for your search terms, but also for words that are similar to or derived from those terms. If you search for kerb, ERA will also search for kerbstone, but in addition a search for turf would also include the plural form, turves.
Prefix/suffix searching
ERA will return records which match only prefix or suffix of a given term. For example, a search for bracken will return records containing the wordsbracken, Brackenheads, Bracken Rigg, etc. and a search for wood will return records containing the words wood, Scrainwood, woodlands, etc.
Wildcards
Wildcards are automatically added to the beginning and end of each search term to ensure that records are retrieved if the term appears within any of the whole terms in the ERA index.
Click the Search button to retrieve records. If any records match your search criteria a will be presented. The default order for results is alphabetically by Panel Name. If you wish to sort your results in a different way, use the Sort Results menu on the Search Form to specify the field to be sorted.
If no records match then you may wish to consider broadening your search. Use your browser ‘Back’ button to return to the Search Form. Click the Clear button at the bottom of the form to clear all the fields, or modify those of your choice.
If a large number of records are retrieved you may wish to narrow your search, or consider using the to specify additional criteria.
Advanced Search
The Advanced Search Form is designed to allow highly specific interrogation of the database on a wide range of fields.
Select Advanced Search from the left hand menu in the Access ERA section.
You will be presented with a Search Form comprised of the following sections:
- General
- Location/Context
- Panel Details
- Panel Art Motif
- Management
Click any heading to move directly to a section of interest or use the scroll bar to browse all the sections. Searches may be performed for just one section, or search terms can be combined across sections. Clicking any of the 'SEARCH' buttons will perform a search based on the combined selections from each category and clicking any of the 'CLEAR FORM' buttons will reset the entire form.
See for information on search syntax.'
Panel Art Motif
In the Panel Art Motif section, simply click on the motifs to be included. The search will return records where any of the specified motifs are present.
For panels in Northumberland the search is based on NADRAP data only.
Map Search
The Map Search allows you to use Google mapping to identify a search area, or to view the location of all rock art panels in the database.
Select Map Search from the left hand menu in the Access ERA section.
Google Map accuracy
The majority of panels were recorded to 1 metre square. However, the accuracy of Google Map data cannot be guaranteed.
The Results List
If records within the database match your specified criteria they will be retrieved and presented as a list, in Panel Name order unless otherwise specified in the Basic or Advanced Search Form. By default, # records will be shown per page. If more than one page of results is retrieved use the next page and previous page buttons to move between them.
The Results List includes the Panel Name, the Location (County, District and Parish), the Panel Type, and the rock art motifs recorded. For panels in Northumberland the motifs recorded by NADRAP and by the Beckensall Archive are shown. These may be different for the reasons discussed .
Click on the Panel Name to view the full for any panel.
Exporting data
It is possible to export your results as an xml file by selecting the ‘export’ link at the top right of the Results List. Depending on the size of the results list, this may take a few seconds to generate the download file. Once it is complete, right-click on the ‘download’ link and use ‘Save Target As’ to save the file to your PC.
The Results Display
The Results Display defaults to the General view. Additional details can be accessed by selecting from the left-hand menu or by clicking on any of the ‘more details’ links on the General view.
General
The General page provides an overview of the panel including information about its location, and general notes. For panels in Northumberland these Notes are drawn from NADRAP records and from the Beckensall Archive. These may differ for the reasons discussed .
Location
The Location provides a more detailed account of the location of the panel, including the type of landscape in which it lies. A thumbnail Google map is provided to show the location. For this is only accurate to 100 metres. For details of each field see .
For most panels a Location Sketch is also provided. Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the image. This sketch is not intended to be an accurate representation, but rather to help with identification of the panel in the field by showing its relationship to other rock art panels, and to other nearby features, old and modern.
For details of each field see .
Details
The Details page includes data specific to the rock art panel including its dimensions, geology and the nature of the carvings. For details of each field see .
Motifs
The exact nature of the motifs identified may differ with separate recording projects for a number of reasons (see ). The NADRAP recordings reflect motifs now visible in the field, whereas the Beckensall Archive data (available for Northumberland only) are based on drawings, some made a number of years ago. Recent research also suggests that prehistoric people may have incorporated natural features into their carvings, sometimes enhancing them. This means that in many cases it is difficult to determine whether some features are natural or human made, and some subjectivity may be reflected in the assessments made. now provide the most accurate record of the panel.
Management
The condition of rock art, and the nature of threats to its survival, can change rapidly with alterations to either the local environment, the use of the land, or the accessibility of the panel. NADRAP assessments were made during the period 2005 - 2008; dates of visits are provided for each panel assessed. The Beckensall Archive provides a historic snapshot of the condition of panels in Northumberland over an extended period and is therefore included to provide a comparison, although the data is not directly comparable with that collected by the NADRAP Project.
For each panel, a number of factors were assessed to determine both the current condition and potential risks to the panel. The factors were grouped into three categories as shown:
| CONDITION ASSESSMENT | RISK ASSESSMENT |
|---|
| Chemical and physical erosion | Chemical and physical threats |
|---|
| Biological coverage | Biological threats |
|---|
| Human and animal impacts | Human and animal threats |
|---|
The table shows the various different factors assessed within each category.
| CONDITION ASSESSMENT | RISK ASSESSMENT |
|---|
| Chemical and physical erosion | Chemical and physical threats |
| Differential erosion (channels/hollows) | Water flow |
| Cratering/pitting | Water pooling |
| Planar erosion (scaling/flaking) | Prevailing weather |
| Burnt areas |
| Biological coverage | Biological threats |
| Lichen (crustose) | Lichen (crustose) |
| Lichen (foliose) | Lichen (foliose) |
| Moss | Moss |
| Algae | Algae |
| Grass/turf patches | Tree canopy |
| Other vegetation | Roots |
| Detritus (leaves/needles) |
| Other vegetation |
| Human and animal impacts | Human and animal threats |
| Droppings (game/stock) | Stock animals |
| Wear (rubbing/trampling) | Game animals |
| Chips or scratches | Land management |
| Graffiti (painted) | People |
| Graffiti (carved) | Other threat |
| Quarrying |
| Plough/flail marks |
| Other condition |
Panels were assigned a score for each factor as follows:
| Extent of cover/erosion/damage | None | <1/3 | 1/3 – 2/3 | > 2/3 |
|---|
| Rock surface score | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|
| Rock art score | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|
| Severity of cover/erosion/damage | None | Slight | Moderate | Severe |
|---|
| Score | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|
The highest score for each sub-group within each respective Condition and Risk group was used to indicate the current condition or the potential threat to the panel as follows:
| Highest score | Condition | Risk |
|---|
| 3 | Poor | Severe |
|---|
| 2 | Moderate | Moderate |
|---|
| 1 | Good | Slight |
|---|
| 0 | Very good | None |
|---|
The example illustrates how the final assessments were derived:
Example: CONDITION ASSESSMENT
| Chemical and physical erosion | Rock surface score | Rock at score | Highest score: 3
Condition: Poor |
|---|
| Differential erosion (channels/hollows) | 0 | 0 |
|---|
| Cratering/pitting | 1 | 1 |
|---|
| Planar erosion (scaling/flaking) | 2 | 3 |
|---|
| Burnt areas | 0 | 0 |
|---|
| Biological coverage | Rock surface score | Rock at score | Highest score: 2
Condition: Moderate |
|---|
| Lichen (crustose) | 2 | 1 |
|---|
| Lichen (foliose) | 0 | 0 |
|---|
| Moss | 2 | 2 |
|---|
| Algae | 0 | 0 |
|---|
| Grass/turf patches | 1 | 0 |
|---|
| Other vegetation | 0 | 0 |
|---|
| Human and animal impacts | Rock surface score | Rock at score | Highest score: 1
Condition: Good |
|---|
| Droppings (game/stock) | 1 | 0 |
|---|
| Wear (rubbing/trampling) | 1 | 1 |
|---|
| Chips or scratches | 0 | 0 |
|---|
| Graffiti (painted) | 0 | 0 |
|---|
| Graffiti (carved) | 1 | 0 |
|---|
| Quarrying | 0 | 0 |
|---|
| Plough/flail marks | 0 | 0 |
|---|
| Other condition | 0 | 0 |
|---|
The Media page provides access to a variety of media depicting the panel, including photographs, drawings and three-dimensional models. For panels in Northumberland media from both the NADRAP project and the Beckensall Archive are included.
Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the image, then use the toolbar to move backwards and forwards through the images, or to start a slide show. To download an image, click on the size you require (Medium, Large or Hi-Res). This will open the image which can then be saved by using your mouse to right-click then selecting the ‘Save Picture as’ option. This applies to all the images in the Media display.
Conventional photographs
Images capture a range of perspectives, including the panel itself with scale bars to indicate the size, close-ups of particular motifs or areas of damage, the wider setting of the panel, and views from the location.
Panoramas
Panorama shots are available for some of the panels.
Stereo photographs
Pairs of stereo photographs provide the raw data for the creation of photogrammetry models. They are provided here to enable you to download them and to process your own models using appropriate software. Supporting information required for processing is supplied in the text file and in the Recording Form also provided. For more information on photogrammetry image capture and processing see Photogrammetry - a new recording method.
Photogrammetry models
These models provide a means to view and manipulate the rock surface in three dimensions. You will need to download the zipped folders and will also need appropriate viewing software. For further help with this see Help with 3D models and viewing software. To find out more about the technique of photogrammetry and how the models were created see Photogrammetry - a new recording method.
Drawings
For Beckensall Archive records (i.e. those in Northumberland), black and white drawings of the panels are available. These are the work of Stan Beckensall, and they are based on wax rubbings made by Stan, supported by repeated observations of each panel.The drawings were made over an extended period and may not reflect the current state of the panels, which may have become more or less exposed, and may have suffered from erosion. It is also worth remembering that these are 2D representations of 3D panels, so allow for this when making comparison with photographs.
Sketches
Sketches are included for most of the NADRAP panels. These were created by the volunteers in the field to provide a rough plan, to scale, of the outline of the panel, with the location of significant features, both carved and natural. They are not intended to be a highly accurate representation.
Field Definitions & Explanatory Notes
The following notes relate to specific database fields and are accessible from the Search Forms and Displays by clicking on the individual Field Names wherever they occur.
OS National Grid Reference
Ordnance Survey national grid reference number. The diagram below represents an OS map. The grid reference for the dot is NU 1387 2770.
SAM reference
Scheduled Ancient Monuments Reference, assigned by English Heritage. 'Scheduling' is shorthand for the process through which nationally important sites and monuments are given legal protection by being placed on a list, or 'schedule'. English Heritage takes the lead in identifying sites in England which should be placed on the schedule by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. A schedule has been kept since 1882 of monuments whose preservation is given priority over other land uses. The current legislation, the AncientMonuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, supports a formal system of Scheduled Monument Consent for any work to a designated monument. Scheduling is the only legal protection specifically for archaeological sites.
See: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.1369
NMR reference
The National Monuments Record brings together a range of unique archive and information resources and services, including over 12 million photographs, plans, drawings and reports.Since 1 April 1999, the NMR has been designated as the public archive of English Heritage and is responsible for curatorial and dissemination services associated with heritage datasets and archives corporately. The archives repository and main customer services activities are based in the National Monuments Record Centre (NMRC) in Swindon, Wiltshire.
See: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.00100400600100a003
Local SMR/HER reference
Sites and Monuments or Histroic Environment Records are maintained locally by County Councils or National Park Authorities (see http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/CHR/.
Museum accession number
A unique identification number applied by museum curators.
Motifs
The exact nature of the motifs identified may differ with separate recording projects. The Beckensall Archive data is based on drawings, some made a number of years ago, whereas the NADRAP recordings reflect motifs currently visible in the field. The effects of weathering, of human and animal impacts and especially the presence of biological growths such as lichen, moss or turf may have resulted in motifs becoming obscured or, in some cases, revealed. Changes in lighting may also affect what is visible. Photogrammetry models now provide the most accurate record of the panel, but some details may have been lost over time; historical drawings therefore provide a valuable snapshot.
Indicates the presence of tool marks, usually ‘pecks’ either within the motifs or dispersed on the panel.
Natural features
Indicates the presence of features where the nature and origin could not be definitely determined. These marks may have natural, geological origin or be the result of differential weathering, or may be the result of human or animal impacts from scratching to quarrying. Recent research also suggests that prehistoric people may have incorporated natural features into their carvings, sometimes enhancing them. This means that it is difficult to determine whether some features are natural or human made.
Length
Length of longest axis
Width
Length of widest part of the panel.
Height
Maximum height of panel above ground level.
Orientation of panel
Orientation of the longest axis.
Slope of carved area
Indicates the slope in degrees of the carved surface of the rock relative to the horizontal (not the slope of the ground). This is relevant to aspects such as water run off, exposure and visibility.
Orientation of slope
Indicates the orientation of the inclined surface, from top to bottom e.g. West-East
Panel geology
The geological classification of the panel. (This may be different from the geology of the underlying bedrock if the panel is an erratic boulder). Analysis of distribution maps suggests a strong relationship between solid geology and rock art. In England the majority of rock art clusters are located in sedimentary (sandstone) areas.
Sedimentary - includes sandstone (e.g. millstone grit), mudstones, limestone and conglomerates
Igneous - includes granite, tuff, gabbro
Metamorphic - includes shale, schist, slate
Compactness of surface
Indicates the stability of (sandstone) rock surfaces and may help in assessing the vulnerability of rock art to erosive forces.
Unconsolidated - flaky and falling apart
Very friable - leaves grains on your fingers when you rub it gently
Friable - leaves a few grains on your fingers when you rub it gently
Hard - no traces of grains
Grain size
Indicates the size of (sandstone) grains in microns (1 micron = one millionth of a meter)
Fine <250 mic
Medium 250 – 500 mic
Coarse 500-1000 mic
Very coarse >1000 mic
Visible components
Indicates the presence of any visible component (included in sandstone):
Quartz - transparent/white, usually near spherical (80-100% of grains in sandstones, usually >95%)
Mica - thin sheets of highly reflective grains, usually white-buff in colour (muscovite), usually found along bedding surfaces in fine sandstones (these become layers of weakness along which fine sandstones can be split
Feldpsar - white/cream/browny-orange grains, generally rectangular. Can make up about 20% of sandstones; usually in local sandstones the feldspar has decayed is stained browny-red. Often these grains are simply washed away, leaving neat rectangular gaps in the rock
Method (OS NGR)
The method by which the grid reference was determined.
GPS = Geographical Positioning System, accurate to between 3 and 15 m.
Note: the accuracy of GPS equipment is reduced where rock art panels lie within plantations.
Museum
Name of museum where panel is currently held. Note: panel may not be on display.
County
County in which panel was originally found.
District
Parish in which panel was originally found, correct at Aug 1 2008.
Parish
Parish in which panel was originally found, correct at Aug 1 2008.
Nearest place name
Name of nearest settlement or feature shown on the OS map.
Altitude
Height in metres above ordnance datum [m OD] (average sea level taken from the Ordnance Survey datum point at Newlyn, Cornwall).
Method (altitude)
Method by which altitude was determined. GPS = Geographical Positioning System, accurate to approx. 10 m. Note: the accuracy of GPS equipment is reduced where rock art panels lie within plantations.
Situation
Indicates the topographical or ‘landscape’ situation of the panel (analysis of landscape position suggests that particular locations may have been favoured by carvers of rock art panels).
Terrain
Description of the terrain in the immediate vicinity, i.e. within 10 m of the panel.
Sloping (e.g. hillside) – panel is on a slope, for example on the side of a hill or valley.
Flat (e.g. plateau) – panel is on level ground. This may be at any elevation, e.g. plateau, a coastal plain or a terrace. Also select this option if the panel is on the top of a small knoll.
Position
The position of the panel in relation to the topography within 500 m of the panel.
Top (e.g. summit) – panel is at or close to the highest elevation in the area for example a hill top, valley ridge, or plateau.
Middle (e.g. hillside) – panel is moderately elevated compared to the local topography, for example on a hill or valley side, or a terrace.
Bottom (e.g. valley floor) – panel is low-lying relative to the local topography, e.g. in or close to a valley bottom, or on a coastal plain. Also select this option if panel is on a small knoll in the valley bottom.
Current land use
This may be very different to that in the prehistoric period, and may indicate how accessible the panel is. A great deal of rock art is found on open moorland, rough grassland or open pasture with sheep or cattle.
Heathland/moorland – land is that is unenclosed with rough grass, heather and/or bracken cover.
Undisturbed grassland – enclosed grassland which is not actively managed to improve the quality of the pasture, or only managed at a low intensity.
Improved pasture – land that is enclosed and has been improved through mechanisms which might include stone clearance, drainage, ploughing, re-seeding and fertilization.
Wood/forest – a plantation, or a natural/managed woodland or forest.
Bog/marsh – a boggy or marshy area
Arable – panel within or at the edge of an arable field or ploughed land.
Urban – built environment including parkland, gardens, thoroughfare (any form of vehicular track), waste ground (area of untidy and agricultural waste land), golf course etc.
Military – land owned the MoD., e.g. for training.
Conservation – area set aside for nature conservation, e.g. Woodland Trust or Nature Reserve.
Other – other land uses not covered above.
Proximity to water
It is possible that there is a relationship between the location of rock art sites and water. Many sites appear to relate to springs or head water (although these may have shifted through time), or to fringe lakes, ponds and rivers.
Solid geology
The rock type or geological classification of the underlying bedrock. (This may be different from the geology of the panel). Analysis of distribution maps suggests a strong relationship between solid geology and rock art. In England the majority of rock art clusters are located in sedimentary (sandstone) areas.
Sedimentary - includes sandstone (e.g. millstone grit), mudstones, limestone and conglomerates
Igneous - includes granite, tuff,
Metamorphic - includes shale, schist, slate
Panel type
Indicates the broad panel classification. Portable rocks include anything that could be carried a reasonable distance by 1 or 2 people.
Current location & provenance
Indicates the current location and, where known, the provenance of the panel.
At original location – indicates that the panel to be in its original archaeological context. This includes all panels found in prehistoric structures such as monuments and burial cairns.
Moved from original location – indicates that the panel has been reused in structure (e.g. a building, field wall, iron age hill fort, gatepost), relocated but is not included in any obvious structure (for example moved to the edge of a cleared field, or to a secure location such as a garden), or placed in a private collection or museum.
Documented as lost – indicates that the panel is known to be missing.
Documented as destroyed – indicates that the panel is known to have been destroyed (e.g. by quarrying).
No documented location – indicates that previous records of the panel do not include an exact location, e.g. a grid reference.
Not located in the field – indicates that the panel cannot be located using location information from previous records, despite an extensive search.
Nearby prehistoric features
Prehistoric features present within 250 m of the panel.
Current condition
Indicates the nature and extent of any problems impacting the entire panel, and/or the rock art.
Physical and chemical weathering
Rock art in England is almost always carved on sandstones. For these rocks, the main cause of physical or chemical decay is dissolution or alteration of the calcite matrix which cements the geological particles together, generally due to the adverse effects of temperature, water and atmospheric pollutants. These processes result in tiny particles of the rock being lost from the rock.
Biological growth
Biological growths are potentially a problem for rock art, although we do not fully understand how they cause decay. It is likely that different types of biological organisms act in different ways on different types of rock, so in order to understand these relationships we first need to collect information and observe how the rocks are decaying.
Animal and human impacts
Animals and humans can cause significant damage to rock art sites both over a short time scale and longer term. This is something we can prevent or mitigate through good management, so we need to record and monitor the impact of these agents.
Potential threats
Indicates the severity of any potential threats to the survival of the rock art.
Physical and chemical threats
A common threat is the presence of water, either pooling on the panel, dripping onto it or flowing across it.
Biological threats
Lichen can be a direct threat, penetrating the rock structure, but moss, algae and other vegetation can be a threat, holding water at the surface and increasing the potential risk.Roots are also potentially damaging, in some cases breaking apart rocks.
Human and animal threats
Panels that are close to human activity such as farming or forestry, or close to roads and footpaths face a greater threat of either accidental or deliberate damage. Stock animals may also pose a risk, causing damage by trampling, scratching or from droppings.