THEY would have been the Damien Hirsts and Tracey Emins of their age. But unlike the fleeting nature of modern art, the works of these North-East artists have stood the test of time.

More than 250 examples of England's finest array of prehistoric rock art carvings have been found near the Scottish border by archaeologists.

Now more than 1,000 cup and ring carvings can be admired on a new website, which carries 6,000 images, said to be the most comprehensive of its kind.

The site, launched yesterday, includes 250 panels unearthed during a two-and-a-half year survey of some of England's remotest countryside, in the expansive moorlands of Northumberland.

Although experts have several theories, they are still grappling with the origins and meaning of the carvings, believed to be the work of Neolithic and Early Bronze Age people between 6,000 and 3,500 years ago.

Among the new discoveries made by archaeologists from the University of Newcastle is a collection at Goatstones, near Wark, where 14 carved stones were found and recorded.

Elsewhere in the county, a local farmer alerted the team to seven panels on his land, which had not previously been recorded.

Old favourites will also be featured in the website, such as the country's largest collection of rock art in one place, at Roughting Linn, in North Northumberland.

Inspiration for the project came from Northumberland rock art specialist Dr Stan Beckensall, who donated his archive of books, photographs, drawings, rubbings and more to the university.

Funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Board enabled Dr Beckensall and University archaeologist Dr Aron Mazel to take things a step further.

For the past two-and-a-half years, the pair have been updating and expanding the resource so a comprehensive archive is available.

The website is at http://rockart. ncl.ac.uk