Figure on The Gardoms Edge Standing Stone, Baslow, Derbyshire.

Os grid reference SK.27252 73225. On the Gardoms Edge standing stone near Baslow, Derbyshire, as well as cup-and-ring carvings there is a tiny figure, perhaps a little man, carved into the side of the stone. But why is this figure carved on here; is it prehistoric or perhaps more recent? Does anyone know of this standing stone and can anyone give an explanation about this carving. Any information and, or comments, would be much appreciated. Thank you.



Photo of the Gardoms Edge Stone, Derbyshire, is by kind courtesy of Richard L.Dixon of Holmfirth, west Yorkshire.

Come on you northern antiquarians know anything about this stone and its carving of a figure, perhaps a little man. Sorry Richard, I'm trying my best for you.

Sunbright57 wrote:Come on you northern antiquarians know anything about this stone and its carving of a figure, perhaps a little man. Sorry Richard, I'm trying my best for you.

Sorry Ray, I can't help. I looks rather interesting to me and has got me see to go see it in the flesh (sort of speak). I'd better have words with mi Paulus about a venture that way.

Mikki xx

By the look of things it's obviously very small and may be a simulacrum. But, like Mikki says, without seeing it in the flesh, I couldn't say anything for sure. But even then it can be difficult. Last year we found what looks incredibly like a hand-carving on Ilkley Moor (I think it's on the forum somewhere) and there are examples of such carvings elsewhere in Britain and across the world - but I could neither contextualize a date, nor even say for sure if it was man-made!

It might be an idea to email John Barnatt, the Derbyshire archaeo-chap, and see if he'll check it out.

All the best - Paul

...just a thought: it'd be good to get some more images of it when the sun's in a better position and the shadow aint cast across it. Get some of it when it's wet aswell, with the sun low, so we can see it clearer. And it'd be a good idea to get a rubbing of it and see if that highlighted it with any clarity.

ttfn - Paul

Hmmmmmmmm, i've been there at least a dozen times and have been up close and personal with that stone, but i've never noticed any cup marks on it, let alone rings. ?
I'm not saying it's not possible but i've never sniffed them out, and i do tend to look for such things, Stu's never mentioned owt either. ?

Who's the source of the info paul. ?

As for the Lowry figure, not noticed that either, i'll have a bimble up there one day this week to check it out.

Btw, Barnatt, might as well ask maggie thatcher to go take a look.

Its a friend of mine called Richard from Holmfirth, no one on Meg Portal knew much about the little man carving on the stone either, so he asked me to put the info on TNA with photo permission. Let's hope someone comes up trumps on here !

aveburyantiquarian wrote:Hmmmmmmmm, i've been there at least a dozen times and have been up close and personal with that stone, but i've never noticed any cup marks on it, let alone rings. ?
I'm not saying it's not possible but i've never sniffed them out, and i do tend to look for such things, Stu's never mentioned owt either. ?

Who's the source of the info paul. ?

Not sure wot y' mean. I aint said there's any cup&rings here.

Paul, the stone does have cup and ring carving on it, but there not on the photo Richard let me have. Ray.



Check site page on Meg Portal.

Paulus wrote:

aveburyantiquarian wrote:Hmmmmmmmm, i've been there at least a dozen times and have been up close and personal with that stone, but i've never noticed any cup marks on it, let alone rings. ?
I'm not saying it's not possible but i've never sniffed them out, and i do tend to look for such things, Stu's never mentioned owt either. ?

Who's the source of the info paul. ?

Not sure wot y' mean. I aint said there's any cup&rings here.

Crossed wires Paul, it was someone else mentioned it.

Sunbright57 wrote:Paul, the stone does have cup and ring carving on it, but there not on the photo Richard let me have. Ray.



Check site page on Meg Portal.

I've checked the MP page for the stone but can't find any reference to cup and rings.
If you have seen a reference could you link to it for me please.

Well i finally had a hour up at the stone today and i can't find any cups or cups with rings, there's some natural markings and that's all imo.

As for the man, well it's there and my instinct is it's probably natural, only my opinion though.

It looks a little bit like an old pixy-pendant Mikki's got. ...But I'm afraid I can't find owt relating to any prehistoric carving here.

Thinking further, i remember a rock art panel featured in the tv series "pagans" where there were crude depictions of males with huge phallasuses (sp?), this "carving" sort of reminds me of those, i'm sure it was a Scandinavian location and i have Googled it with no joy.
I don't know of any UK examples of such and i'm still of a mind it's natural, but thought i'd mention it.

aveburyantiquarian wrote:Thinking further, i remember a rock art panel featured in the tv series "pagans" where there were crude depictions of males with huge phallasuses (sp?), this "carving" sort of reminds me of those, i'm sure it was a Scandinavian location and i have Googled it with no joy.

Quite a few horny-male petroglyph sites are scattered over Scandinavia. Some just show men with huge hard-ons, dancing; others have 'em chasing animals in hunting scenes; whilst a few show some hardcore bestiality going on! Check out Janson's Rock Carvings at Fiskeby; John Coles Shadows of a Northern Past; and Davidson & Gelling's The Chariot of the Sun for all y' dirty rock-art pictures!

aveburyantiquarian wrote:I don't know of any UK examples of such and i'm still of a mind it's natural, but thought i'd mention it.

There aren't any in the UK that are known about. If & when someone finds such a carving, it'll be the first (I think). God knows what species our Pennine ancestors were shagging in those neolithic days! Let's hope it was just ladies - we wouldn't want 'em to let the side down!

Well the same series did feature men shagging horses to prove their prowess, i'm sure that never progressed as far south as Derbyshire though, we're too short civilized for such things.
Bahhhhhhhh.

There is a large stone shaped like a recumbant cock embedded into a wall at Great Urswick, Cumbria, called 'The Priapus Stone'. Originally this stone stood upright (erect) in the nearby field. And, a similar shaped stone, erect, at the West Kennet long barrow, near Salisbury plain.

Sunbright57 wrote: And, a similar shaped stone, erect, at the West Kennet long barrow, near Salisbury plain.

I've never heard of that, and i've been there quite a few times. !

Yes, stone shaped like a penis at West Kennett Long Barrow (stone no 22 near entrance). See link http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=2146413218

Ah, that one. !
It's in the main chamber not near the entrance.
I've heard it described as a left facing head/skull, notably by Professor Terence Meaden, but never as a penis.

Here's a wider pic of that stone.
Some say the stone to the left resembles a left facing face.
I guess it doesn't like penii.


Ooer.

The Meg Portal lot think its a willy, but could be anything I suppose. Anything shaped like that could be mistaken for a willy, I Think. Its just "our minds" !!