Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

In heath and scrub (110m OD), on small plateau of a hillock, on E side of Bawnaknockane River valley; Overlooked by higher ground in the wider vicinity. Mount Gabriel is clearly visible in distance to SW. At a slightly lower location, c. 6.1m to W of rock art panel (CO131-074----). Rock art, possible (CO131-073----) is c. 40m to E. A very rough and fractured expanse of rock (dims. 4.45m N-S; 3.30m E-W), which was exposed in relatively recent times, evident by the edge of sod (D 0.12m) around the perimeter. It is subrectangular in plan, having natural striations and pocked solution marks across its surface. This is an extensively decorated rock art panel with a subrectangular decorated surface (dims. 4.45m N-S; 3.30m E-W) bearing a variety of motifs in size and form. The decorative elements are in a reasonably good condition, albeit having a slight crudeness, possibly due to the rough nature of the stone. There are approximately eleven main motifs and numerous cupmarks, pickmarks and linear grooves. The main features are a cup-and-eight-ring motif (overall dims. 63cm x 60cm; ring Wth 1cm; D 3mm; cup dims. 9cm x 7.5cm; D 15mm) and a cup-and-four-ring motif (overall dims. 66cm E-W; 58cm N-S; ring Wth 1-1.5cm; D 4mm; cup dims. 7cm x 7.5cm; D 28mm). A radial groove (L 42cm; Wth 1.5-2cm; D 4-5mm) also forms part of the decoration. There is a cup-and-three-ring motif (overall dims. 23cm N-S; 19cm E-W; ring Wth 1.5cm; D 3-4mm; cup diam. 4cm; D 14mm) which has three pickmarks (dims. 2.5cm x 2cm; D 4-5mm) in a linear arrangement within the space between the middle and outer rings. There are four cup-and-two-ring motifs (max. overall diam. 27cm; ring Wth 2.5cm; D 4mm; cup dims. 8.5cm x 9.5cm; D 14mm), a two-cup-and-ring motif (overall dims. 20cm N-S; 14cm E-W; ring Wth 1-1.5cm; D 2-3mm; cup diam. 3.5-4cm; D 10mm) and two one-cup-and-ring motifs (overall dims. 16cm N-S; 19cm E-W; ring Wth 1.5-2cm; D 4mm; cup dims. 6cm x 7cm; D 20mm). There are two cupmarks in a heart-shaped ring motif (overall dims. 57cm NE-SW; 31cm NW-SE; ring Wth 1.5cm; D 4-5mm; cup dims. 6cm x 7cm; D 25mm). Numerous cupmarks (diam. 4-10cm; D 16-26mm) and linear grooves (Wth 1.5-3cm; D 5-6mm) in and around the main motifs. Some pickmarks may be mistaken for natural picked solution marks which cover the surface of this stone and other undecorated stone surfaces nearby. Initially identified as rock art by Gary Cox and David Myler (2012).

See attached screenshots of 3D model of the rock art panel created by archaeology.ucc. 3D model can be accessed at the Sketchfab website: https://skfb.ly/SJMt

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 13 July 2017