page_title: Petrosomatoglyph
section_title: Footprints in England and Wales
hierarchical_section_title: Petrosomatoglyph / Human petrosomatoglyphs / Footprints / Footprints in England and Wales
caption_attribution_description: English: A footprint PSG of an unclothed foot from Chapeltoun, near Stewarton in Ayrshire
context_page_description: A petrosomatoglyph is a supposed image of parts of a human or animal body in rock.
  They occur all over the world, often functioning as an important form of symbolism, used in religious and secular ceremonies, such as the crowning of kings. Some are regarded as artefacts linked to saints or culture heroes.
  The word comes from the Greek πέτρα – petra, σῶμα – soma, and γλύφειν – glyphein. Feet are the most common; however, knees, elbows, hands, head, fingers, etc., are also found.
  Stylised representations of parts of the body are often open to dispute and are therefore on the fringes of acceptability as identifiable petrosomatoglyphs. Natural objects, such as rock crystals and rock formations which look like petrosomatoglyphs, whole animals, plants, etc., are collectively called "mimeoliths".
context_section_description: "King Arthur's Footprint" is a hollow in the rock at the highest point of Tintagel Island's southern side. It is not entirely natural, having been shaped by human hands at some stage. It may have been used for the inauguration of kings or chieftains as the site is known to have a long history stretching back to the Dark Ages.
  At Poole Farm in Somerset, a cist cover was found with footprints and cupmarks. The decorated cist slab is displayed in Bristol Museum. Originally it was in position on the south side of the Pool Farm Cist, which was contained within a round barrow. Excavation revealed the cremated remains of a child and an adult. However, these carvings do have similarities with the Calderstones in Liverpool and others in Scandinavia. The footprinted Calderstones in Liverpool may have come from a Lancashire passage-grave. Sharkey sees a link of artistic influence between these and those at Petit-Mont in Brittany.
  On a rock formerly visible at the eastern end of Holyhead church in Anglesey, Wales, was the footprint of St. Cybi.
caption: An unclothed footprint on a boulder at Trewithen in Chapeltoun, Ayrshire
exif: {}