Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

This monument was initially identified as rock art by Aoibheann Lambe in 2014.  In mountain heath, on a NE-facing slope (209m OD), overlooking Behy River valley to NE and overlooked by mountains SE->W->NE. Watercourse (draining from Coomnacronia Lake) is located 1m to E. Rock art boulder overhangs a small stream which converges with the larger watercourse, adjacent to N of monument. A slightly rough and fractured, sandstone rock (dims. 1.95m NW-SE; 1.50m NE-SW; max. H 0.35m), which has an irregular-shaped decorated surface (dims. 0.50m NNE-SSW; 1.00m ESE-WNW) and a NE-facing aspect. Very weathered, mainly by freeze/thaw action which has removed part of this motif, to W and other motifs may also have been eroded. The rock art consist of a conjoined cup-and-three-ring motif (overall dims. 21cm NE-SW; max. 17cm NW-SE): The cup-and-three ring motif to S is best preserved and comprises of a cupmark (diam. 4-5cm; D 8-9mm) and rings (Wth 1cm; D 3-4mm). The cup-and-three ring motif (reduced diam. 17cm) conjoined to N has been adversely affected by freeze/thaw action W->N->NE. The inner ring of the S cup-and-three-ring is complete and the two outer rings are conjoined with the other cup-and-three-ring motif. The conjoined motif is very finely carved and is symmetrical. A ‘rosette’ cup-and-ring motif abuts to E and together these motifs form a trefoil shape. The ‘rosette’ cup-and-ring motif comprises of a central cupmark (diam. 2.5cm; D 9mm) and is enclosed by seven slightly smaller cupmarks (diam. 1.5cm; D 4mm). A cup-and-ring motif (diam. 8cm) having a cupmark (diam. 3.5cm; D 4mm) and ring (Wth 8mm; D 2mm) is located 67cm to NW of the main trefoil motif. The ring is incomplete at SW and N, possibly due to weathering. There are four pickmarks (diam. 1-1.5cm; D 3mm) located 10cm to NE of main trefoil motif, up on a higher area of rock surface defined by a natural ‘step’ (H 4cm).

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 3 March 2017