Diseño de un complemento de integración entre la Aplicación Agente SC y el Gestor

The same pattern is repeated at As Laxiñas in the Taxes valley (marked

II on Fig. 35). Here, faint complex petroglyphs are found on an inconspicuous outcrop on lower level and south of a very large outcrop dome (with a few doubtful single cups as well as a fake cup-and-two- rings). The whole outcrop complex has a steep scarp to the west and offers wide panoramic views across the interior. The view towards the sea is completely blocked, although the general relief map gives the impression that the Ria de Muros would be visible. From the site the locations of quite a number of sites can be made out, but this may be coincidental. But it is nonetheless most impressive to observe the big rock of As Laxiñas from the Laxe do Carrizo high up the hill slope.

1.3.1.2.1 THE LAXE DO CARRIZO

Large parts of the Muros peninsula abound in suitable exposed rock outcrops. To me this was the most puzzling aspect of the distribution of Galician petroglyphs. Why was a certain rock selected in favour of many others nearby that are equally or even better suitable ?

This brings me to comment on one of the basic premises of the study by Bradley, Criado & Fábregas (1995: 354), who state that “if rock art had acted a system of messages between groups of people who were not present on the same occasions, it is essential that the intended audience would have been able to find it. That could only have happened if the carvings had been located in a consistent manner

(emphases mine).” This statement presents two basic problems of the rock art of the Muros peninsula in particular and Galician rock art in general, as rock art sites are not distributed according to certain “rules”, especially not on micro level and, moreover, they are definitely

not easy to locate.

Even with the help of the directions in the guide by Eiroa & Rey and the presence of modern (unpaved) roads for easy access and orientation and the help of many locals, it proved to be extremely difficult to locate some of the sites in the field. This not only was evident at the Pedra da Chula and the Cova da Bruxa but also and especially at the Laxa do Carrizo, as again not a specific conspicuous rock had been selected, but one of many similar looking smaller outcrops high upon the steep, rock-strewn hill slope. The site indeed offers impressive views because of its high position, but it is definitely not easy to locate or to access. The situation in prehistoric times will certainly not have been easier.

Also, the ubiquitous dense gorse bushes on this hill slope, also present at many other places in Galicia, and the many irregularly shaped, but also the often much sloping smooth outcrops make it extremely difficult to walk the area, let alone to trace the engravings.

M. van HOEK: 67 GEOGRAPHY FIG. 47: LAXE DAS RODAS.

Moreover, from whatever direction the Laxe do Carrizo is approached,

never is there any specific natural landmark which would help people

unfamiliar with the terrain to locate this important stone. A prominent outcrop stack as a point of reference (according to Eiroa & Rey) near the Laxe do Carrizo is only one of many of such outcrop stacks on this high dividing ridge and is of little help. The upper surface of this uncarved outcrop stack is covered with large natural basins, but these are invisible from below (this situation may be compared with the

Pedra da Chula).

If indeed the rock art on the Laxa do Carrizo was intended to convey certain images to strangers to an area, the site certainly was not a good choice, as it is highly unlikely that strangers would ever have found it without local help. There are many other rocks in the Muros peninsula that are far much better suited to attract the eye of a stranger at spots that are more easily accessible. It would have been for instance more logical to select prominent outcrops at lower level, such as the Laxe das Rodas in the San Francisco valley.

*

1.3.1.3 THE SAN FRANCISCO VALLEY

A similar preference is noted at the Laxe das Rodas with its well known spirals and sets of small cupules (Fig. 47). The carvings, located on a partially quarried extension of lower rock just NE of a very large outcrop stack with many big natural basins, only overlook a small part of an inland basin (called braña in the Galician language; Bradley, Criado & Fábregas 1995: 348) at the head of the San Francisco valley. The views to the south, west and east are almost completely blocked, even when standing on the high outcrop stack. To the north only part of the braña, or rather the pass to the Taxes

valley (marked II on Fig. 35) and the main dividing ridge beyond is

visible. To the south glimpses of the sea are visible only when standing on a higher part of the outcrop or on top of the outcrop stack itself. If extensive sea views would have been favoured, it would not have been difficult at all to find a suitable spot nearby, as only some 20 m to the SE are some very extensive smooth outcrops offering fine views of the mouth of the Ria de Muros. It is therefore more likely that the impressive outcrop stack with its natural, flat-bottomed and often

M. van HOEK: 68 GEOGRAPHY water-filled basins on top initially attracted the petroglyph manufacturers (compare with the Pedra da Chula).

The large outcrop stack also has a few simple cupules on a ledge at its NE, “overlooking” the complex engravings further NE. In Galicia single cupules often are found on rocks that are situated slightly higher than the complex engravings. This brings Bradley, Criado & Fabregas to

suggest that “they (the cupules) may have been added to places that

had an already established significance (1995: 358)”. This statement is rather obscure as it is not clear whether the authors meant that the significance had firstly been established by the natural basins or by the complex designs. In my opinion the complex design were added later, whereas the cupules already had enhanced the importance of the natural basins and the outcrop stack. It may also be important that the two most complex designs (one comprising a natural basin with a natural crack as radial groove: Fig. 47) are both surrounded by distinct small

uniform cupules in an organised manner, but simultaneously are

situated near a small cluster of random standard cupules of different sizes, generally considered by me to be older.

*

1.3.1.4 CONCLUSIONS

Unfortunately Bradley, Criado & Fábregas only discussed two valley systems with rock art on the Muros peninsula (San Francisco and Serres), whereas there actually are four valleys with petroglyphs. Two of the valleys start at the accessible beaches of San Francisco

(marked Ia on Fig. 35) and Louro (Ib), the coastline of the latter

valley probably extending much further inland in prehistoric days. Both valleys connect via low passes with the sheltered valley at Laxes (II), (named Serres by Bradley, Criado & Fábregas 1995: 355) continuing north as the distinctly individually developed valley of Valdexería.

All rock art sites are found surprisingly concentrated east of the high dividing ridge which extends from the north to the south at Monte Naraio. An exception is the site at Chans de Tras. It is the only site situated on top of the crest of the dividing ridge, but despite its high altitude it is invisible from all other sites. It is also the only site with wide views of both the Ria de Muros and the Atlantic Ocean and the only site with a view of the beautiful beaches at Carnota.

At the extreme south end of the dividing ridge are the important groups of Naraio, situated among a large number of conspicuous outcrop formations. The rock art group at Monte Naraio 2 overlooks the ancient coastline and the probable landing site, whereas Monte Naraio 1 is more focussed on the interior, and its labyrinth shaped petroglyphs connect with a similar design at the Laxe do Carrizo, still further inland.

Most remarkable, the group of rock art sites at San Francisco is found in a distinct arc, parallel to the accessible beach, and they probably embrace the ancient landing place. Although Bradley, Criado & Fábregas

M. van HOEK: 69 GEOGRAPHY FIG. 48: ROUTES I – II.

argue that all these sites command extensive views into the lower ground of the San Francisco valley (1995: 357), this definitely is not true for the site at O Cruceiro, which moreover is located on the wrong spot on their map; it should be situated at least 300 m further east (Fig. 36). O Cruceiro is a most extensive and steeply south sloping outcrop area, where only one cup-and-three-rings was reported. Inspection of the site, however, revealed at least two more single cupules. From O Cruceiro, on top of a cliff and directly high above the beach, the other sites are definitely invisible, but there is a splendid view of the beach of San Francisco and the Louro peninsula with its distinct solitary hill. This resembles the situation at Mogor near Pontevedra, where a major cup-and- ring site overlooks a most accessible sandy beach, but also many sites in Scotland similarly overlook beaches or small bays suitable as landing places (Monreith and Garlieston in Galloway; Ardifur and Poltalloch in Argyll).

The distribution pattern in these two valleys (Ia and Ib) indeed seems to indicate that prehistoric people approached the Muros peninsula from the south; possibly in two flows (Fig. 48). The coastline north of Muros town is rather muddy and is rather inaccessible, especially at ebb. Several beaches on the Muros peninsula however, are most suitable as landing place, but probably because of the more sheltered character the beaches at Louro and especially San Francisco were favoured, whereas

the more exposed beaches of Lariño and Carnota (Fig. 35) were

ignored. There is for instance, no rock art in the valley NE of the beach at Lariño. Bradley, Criado & Fábregas moreover argue (1995:

354) that “if the rock carvings really formed part of a territorial

system, we might expect them to be located around particular resources”. As the valley NE of Lariño differs not much in character from the valleys of Louro and San Francisco, it is more than strange that there is no rock art in this valley.

Beyond the arc of rock art sites at San Francisco no circular petroglyphs have been recorded until one reaches the head of the valley. There, a most prominent outcrop stack marks the site of the Laxa da Rodas, which bears one of the most interesting collection of petroglyphs of the whole peninsula. Together with the cupmarked rocks newly reported by Bradley, Criado & Fábregas, it marks the pass

M. van HOEK: 70 GEOGRAPHY