Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

This monument was initially identified as rock art by Aoibheann Lambe in 2014.  In area of cutaway bog, on a gentle NE-facing slope (207m), overlooking Behy River valley to NE and overlooked by mountains SE->W->NE. In man-made hollow (dims. c. 12m N-S; c. 10m E-W; D c. 1-1.5m), c. 11m to NW of bog trackway; disused turf bank c. 5m to W. A slightly rough and unfractured, sandstone rock (dims. 1.00m NNE-SSW; 1.60m ESE-WNW; max. H 1.25m), which has a triangular decorated surface (dims. 1.40m ESE-WNW; 1.0m NNE-SSW) having a NE-facing aspect and a sub-rectangular decorated surface (dims. 0.60m NW-SE; 0.40m NE-SW) having a NW-facing aspect. Very weathered and faint rock art obscured by lichens. The motifs are concentrated upon the NE-facing decorated surface and consist of three cup-and-ring motifs (diam. 12-16cm) having a cupmark (diam. 4-7cm; D 3-6mm) and ring (Wth 1-2cm; D 3mm). One cup-and-partial ring motif (diam. 8cm) having a cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 6mm) and ring (Wth 8mm; D 2mm); Ring is present NE->E and a long radial groove (L 36cm; Wth 1cm; D 3mm) extends from the cupmark at W and extends across shoulder of stone and continues onto NW-facing decorated surface, where it continues for L 16cm. There is moss (L 13cm) on the shoulder of stone which appears to cover some of this radial groove. A cup-and-partial-two ring motif (diam. 16cm) having a cupmark (diam. 7cm; D 4mm) is located on N area of this decorated surface, near ground level; Interior ring (Wth 1cm; D 4mm) is complete and exterior ring is complete E->S->W. Second cup-and-partial-two ring motif (diam. 16cm) having a cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 5mm) has an incomplete inner ring (open to NW); A radial groove (Wth 8mm) extends from the cupmark at NW. One cup-and-partial-three ring motif (dims. 35cm NW-SE; 27cm NE-SW) having a cupmark (diam. 6cm; D 6mm) is off-centre to SE; Pronounced cupmark (diam. 7cm; D 20mm) upon exterior ring at W-side of this motif. A cluster of three cupmarks (diam. 2.5-7cm; D 3-20mm) of varying sizes in E-corner. Lines of pickmarks and meandering grooves upon this decorated aspect. A small number of simple motifs were recorded upon the NW-facing decorated surface and consist of a shallow cupmark (diam. 4cm; D 2mm) off-centre to NE. Two parallel grooves of pickmarks adjacent to SE. The shorter groove (L 25cm; Wth 1.5cm; D 3mm) turns at a right angle (dims. L 15cm NW-SE) and intersects the linear groove (dims. L 36cm NE-SW; Wth 1.5cm; D 3mm). A third, much shorter linear groove of pickmarks is recorded further to NW. All of these grooves continue onto the NE-facing decorated aspect. Rock art site (KE071-082001-) is c. 11m to N.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 3 March 2017