Anyone know the age & cause of these...?

We were up walking on the moors yesterday and came across a few rocks scattered at different spots with these curious marks on them:







They seem industrial in nature, possibly due to some lead-workings on the moors? Does anyone know. We've found some obvious prehistoric sites in the area, but scattered close by are a number of rock-markings like these, so it;d be good to find out their age and nature.

Cheers - Paul

Hi Paul no answer sorry, but check out photo #15 in the Blog link at the start of
https://northernantiquarian.forumotion.net/t377-stones-around-crow-hill
different rock types very similar marks ?
cheers Danny

QDanT wrote:Hi Paul no answer sorry, but check out photo #15 in the Blog link at the start of
https://northernantiquarian.forumotion.net/t377-stones-around-crow-hill
different rock types very similar marks ?

The ones on the small stones seem to have been cut into with metal implements - but for what reason or purpose, I know not. The problem is, there's some authentic prehistoric remains nearby, but some of the stones on some adjacent remains have been cut in more recent centuries as some of the stonework is straight-edged & not consistent with the Bronze Age or neolithic stuff only yards away.

If anyone else has any ideas, I;d love to know.

Fingers crossed - Paul

Erosion and weathering of the limestone perhaps ?

Sunbright57 wrote:Erosion and weathering of the limestone perhaps ?

Some erosion, definitely. But I can't believe the marks are all Nature's handiwork. But if someone can show otherwise - I'm all ears!

Oh, its really surprsing what thousands of years of weathering can do, rain gets into little cracks and crevices and then you get those strange holes and stuff. I think some idiot or s***head has been slicing the rocks, taking sections away for their garden or house, perhaps.


Mmmm, I'm not sure what the cause is. Probably industrial as you say. Very odd though.

Sunbright57 wrote:...I think some idiot or s***head has been slicing the rocks, taking sections away for their garden or house, perhaps.

No it's not that Ray. If folk wanted that, they'd do it much closer to somewhere accessible. This is on the tops, way off any footpaths, thru bogs and deep heather. Far far too much effort and too much distance for that. It's summat industrial - early industrial (I think). There's quite a lot of the stone marked like this all down the moors, even cut into and effecting a known settlement.