Yorkshire "Rock Art Sculpture"

Young people making a rubbing of the Neolithic rock carvings During the summer teenagers from the Asian community in Keighley have been working with artists to produce work inspired by the Neolithic rock art on Ilkley Moor. English Heritage worked in Partnership with the Bradford Youth Service in Keighley to offer a series of activities and workshops over five weeks.

One of the largest collections of rock art in the county can be found in West Yorkshire on open moorland around Bradford.  The carvings are believed to be Neolithic and Bronze Age (4-5,000 years old). 

Young people making a rubbing of the Neolithic rock carvings They are usually a collection of patterns drawn on stones rather than drawings as you find in cave art and are believed to by symbolic in some way.  They are often called ‘cup and ring marks’ although there is a lot of variation in the patterns found. 

By learning about links between these ancient symbols, rock carvings around the world and modern day symbolism, the young people produced beautiful digital art and textiles.

Young people making a stone sculpture inspired by Neolithic rock carvings Using computer technology the young people were able to combine their digital photography with the rubbings on fabric to create wall hangings to put up around their youth centre.

These workshops then led into designs and ideas for an impressive stone sculpture that will be exhibited in the Keighley area.

As part of the project they have not only developed new creative skills but have become familiar with and enjoyed local natural and historic environments which they had previously never visited.