Swastika Stone

The Old Geezers went for a walk on Ilkley Moor today. The Swastika Stone is possibly the most well known carved rock on the Moor. It is an unusual design and it is not clear if it dates from the Bronze or Iron Age.

The design itself consists of four spiral arms with a cup in the loop of each arm and also one within the outer ring of each arm. There is also a cup in the centre of the design meaning the cups themselves form a 5x5 cross figure. A strange squiggle also emerges from one of the arms.

What this design means is unclear, although it is known that in many ancient civilizations the swastika is recognised as a symbol relating to the sun.