Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

This monument was initially identified as rock art by Aoibheann Lambe in 2016. In mountain heath and cutaway bog, on a NE-facing slope (176m OD), overlooking Behy River valley to NE and overlooked by mountains SE->W->NE. A slightly rough and fractured sandstone rock outcrop (dims. 2.80m NW-SE; 1.90m NE-SW; max. H 0.40m) with three decorated surfaces having NE, SE and SW-facing aspects each bearing weathered and faint rock art. The NE-facing decorated surface (dims. 0.90m N-S; 2.25m E-W) has the highest concentration of motifs consisting of a pair of cupmarks (diam. 5-7cm; D 6-8mm) at the S-end having a short linear groove (L 6cm NE-SW; Wth 1cm; D 5mm) to immediate NW. These three motifs are on a flat, upper surface of rock. A partial cup-and-one ring motif (diam. 9cm) having a cupmark (diam. 7cm; D 12mm) and ring (Wth 1.5cm; D 3mm) S->NW, is located upon a flat surface, at edge of sloping rock face, off-centre to NW of decorated surface. A naturally formed elliptical hollow is located upon a lower level of rock surface, to N of this motif. A cup-and-two ring motif (diam. 21cm) having a cupmark (diam. 6cm; D 12mm) and penannular rings (Wth 1.5cm; D 2-3mm), open to E. A linear groove (L 12cm) extends from cupmark to beyond outer ring. This motif is located upon a relatively flat surface, to E of the elliptical hollow. Various lines of pickmarks (Wth 1.5cm; D 3mm) are clearly visible upon this NE-facing aspect and include c. six vertical lines and c. three horizontal lines of varying lengths. The SE-facing decorated surface (dims. 0.70m NE-SW; 0.40m NW-SE) bears a meandering line of pickmarks (Wth 1.5cm; D 3mm) which emerges from ground level and continues across the shoulder of this rock and around to the NE-facing aspect, where it is no longer traceable. A cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 3mm) and a small cluster of pickmarks are located centrally, to SW of a natural fracture. The SW-facing decorated surface (dims. 0.50m NW-SE; 0.02m NE-SW) bears a line (L 50cm) of pickmarks (Wth 1.5cm; D 3mm) which is visible at base of stone, at ground level. This line curves around the corner of the rock continuing to the SE-facing aspect for a short length before disappearing under the peat.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 3 March 2017