Type of rock, pick marks and tools
Most of the carvings in England, for which we have records, were done on sandstone except for a handful in the Cheviots and in Cumbria that were made on igneous rocks. The process of cup and ring making has been clearly described by Stan Beckensall (2001: 13): 'Where rock art has been recently uncovered or has resisted erosion particularly well, individual pick marks that produce cups and rings are visible, especially in low light. The size of the 'picking' or 'pecking' shows that a variety of tools was used, some with a fine nail-like point and others with a broad chisel, with other varieties in between.'