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 an ENE-facing slope (277m OD), overlooking Behy River valley to NE and glimpse of Coomaglaslaw Lake to SE; overlooked by mountains SE->W->NE. Watercourse (draining from Coomnacronia Lake) is located 20m to SSE and is flanked either side by a deposit of glacial boulders; Rock art site is situated at northern edge. A very smooth and unfractured, sandstone rock (dims. 1.55m NNE-SSW; 3.10m ESE-WNW; max. H 0.60m at E), which has a sub-rectangular decorated surface (dims. 1.35m NNE-SSW; 2.50m ESE-WNW) and a slight NE-facing aspect. Very weathered and faint rock art with lichens covering c. ninety per cent of the surface. The rock art consist of eleven cupmarks (diam. 3-6cm; D 3-4mm) distributed across the central portion of the decorated surface. Seven cup-and-one ring motifs (overall dims. 12-23cm) concentrated across the southern area of decorated surface, having a cupmark (diam. 5-12cm; D 3-4mm) and ring (Wth 2cm; D 2-3mm), three of which are incomplete and three of which have a radial groove extending from the cupmark to the exterior of the motif. Three cup-and-two ring motifs (overall diam. 21-25cm) off-centre to S, having a cupmark (diam. 3.5-5cm; D 4mm) and rings (Wth 1cm; D 2mm) of which the central example is incomplete. Two of these have a radial groove extending from the cupmark to the exterior of the cup-and-three ring motif. One of the single cupmarks mentioned above, is located upon outer ring of cup-and-two ring motif, at W-end of decorated surface. There is a step located on E-edge of this rock, c. 27cm below the decorated surface.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 3 March 2017