The area between Gardoms Edge and Birchen Edge in the Peak District was once the site of a small Bronze age settlement and was farmed by the people who lived there. If you take a wander around the area, you can find several interesting Bronze Age and Neolithic features hidden among the trees, bracken, heather and grassy areas. One of the most interesting is this slab of gritstone featuring a ‘ring and cup’ carving. It is believed to be a Bronze age form of art. It would be fabulous to be able to look back in time to see the people who made this carving and maybe to understand a little of its significance.
Having found the rock and marveled at it, you should then bend down and tap or knock on it. You will soon realise that it is not quite what it seems! It sounds hollow inside. That is because in 1996 the original rock was buried in a secret location nearby to protect it from erosion and other damage and it was replaced by this polyester resin and fiberglass replica. Just to look at it you would never know.
