Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

The Boheh stone is a national monument in State ownership (no. 530). A large natural boulder of out-cropping rock, it is known locally and recorded on OS maps as ‘St Patrick’s Chair & Knee Mark’. The stone bears one of the finest collection of petroglyphs in Ireland spread out over an area c. 4m square. The motifs, over 250 in number, have been carved on all surfaces of the stone at various levels (van Hoek 1993) and mainly take the form of ‘cup’, ‘cup and rings’ and ‘keyhole’ designs. The carvings have formed the basis of a ‘rolling sun’ thesis (Bracken and Wayman 1992; Van Hoek 1993) where the setting sun appears to glide or roll down the north flank of Croagh Patrick around two particular dates during the year (18th April and 24th August). A further panel of art was exposed on the stone in 2015. (Kinahan 1878-9; Bracken and Wayman 1992; Van Hoek 1993; Morahan 2001, 28-9)

See attached screenshots of 3D model of the rock art panel created by Digital Heritage Age. 3D model can be accessed on the Sketchfab website at: https://skfb.ly/6sW66

Compiled by: Paul Walsh

Date of upload: 29 June 2015

References

Morahan, L. 2001 Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo. Archaeology, landscape and people. The Croagh Patrick Archaeological Committee, Westport, Co. Mayo.

Bracken, G.G. and Wayman, P.A. 1992 A Neolithic or Bronze-age alignment for Croagh Patrick, Cathair na Mart.Journal of the Westport historical society, 12, 1-11.

Kinahan, G.H. 1878-9 On inscribed stones, county Mayo. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 2, 17-21.

Van Hoek, M. 1993 The prehistoric rock art of the Boheh stone, Co. Mayo, Cathair na Mart. Journal of the Westport historical society, 13, 1-15.