Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

At Cloghcor portal tomb (SL007-026----).
This very rare example of rock art found at a portal tomb consists of a series of cupmarks on the surface of one of the stones that form the tomb.
The stone bearing the cupmarks is a large, subrectangular-shaped slab (c. 1.8m E−W; c. 1.3m N−S; T 0.35-0.5m) which lies prostrate and partly embedded in the ground towards the rear (SW end) of the tomb. It is now overlain by the collapsed capstone, and it is possible that it originally served as an end stone to support the capstone. The cupmarks occur on one of the narrower sides of the stone, which presents a relatively flat, smooth surface (L 1.3m E−W; D 0.5m at W end, 0.57m at W end) and currently faces NE toward the entrance of the tomb.
The cupmarks are evident as small, shallow circular dimples (max. diam. 0.04m; D 0.01m) in the stone surface. They are not sharply defined and are barely discernible in normal light conditions. Photographic images taken at night under strong artificial illumination reveal two clusters, each of about 8-10 cupmarks, with a shallow linear feature/motif (L c. 0.1m) merging with the W cluster (see: SL007-026001-_01.JPG; SL007-026002-_01.JPG, provided courtesy of Ciaran McHugh). A shallow, natural ‘step’ or change of level in the surface of the stone divides the two clusters. More cupmarks may be concealed at the E end of the panel, where the stone is embedded in the ground. A 3-D photogrammetry image also highlights these details (courtesy of Martin Duffy).
The purpose and meaning of the cupmarks remain enigmatic. The original position of the decorated stone within the tomb is uncertain, and therefore so too are the original orientation of the decorated panel and how visible it would have been in the past to visitors to the tomb. It is also uncertain whether the rock art is contemporary with the construction of the tomb or was added at a later date in prehistory.

Notified to the National Monuments Service by Tamlyn McHugh.

Attached images:
SL007-026001-_01.JPG Illuminated image, courtesy of Ciaran McHugh
SL007-026001-_02.JPG Illuminated image, courtesy of Ciaran McHugh
SL007-026001-_03.JPG 3-D photogrammetry image, courtesy of Martin Duffy
SL007-026001-_04.JPG Ranging rod marks location of decorated stone, viewed from tomb entrance at NE
SL007-026001-_05.JPG Cupmarked stone
SL007-026001-_06.JPG Cupmarked stone

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 6 August 2021