What is recorded here

Aoibheann Lambe identified the site in 2014, pulling a forgotten cup-and-ring marker out of the Letter West bog. The rough sandstone still holds a central cup surrounded by a ring, while a separate square cup and a fading line of pickmarks scatter nearby. Black moss fills the small cuts, making the ancient geometry glow against the pale stone. The marker sits beside a disused turf bank and a narrow trackway, waiting for someone to notice the shape before the peat swallows it again.

This monument was initially identified as rock art by Aoibheann Lambe in 2014. In mountain heath and blanket bog, on a gentle NE-facing slope (180m OD), overlooking Behy River valley to NE; overlooked by mountains SE->W->NE. Bog trackway is c. 4m to W and a disused turf bank is c. 5m to E. A slightly rough and fractured sandstone rock (dims. dims. 2.60m NW-SE; 0.50m NE-SW; H 0.20m at SW; H 1.50m at NE), overhanging a small stream and which has a rectangular decorated surface (dims. 1.50m NW-SE; 0.50m NE-SW) with a SW-facing aspect. Only part of the rock surface is exposed across northern portion and sod covers remainder to S. Very weathered yet traceable rock art consisting of a cup-and-one ring motif (diam. 16cm) located centrally and having a cupmark (diam. 4cm; D 4mm) and ring (Wth 2cm; D 2-3mm) comprised of pickmarks. A roughly square cupmark (dims. 5cm NW-SE; 4cm NE-SW; D 4mm) is c. 70m to W. A line of pickmarks (long-axis NE-SW; L 47cm; Wth 1-1.5cm; D 3-4mm), c. 20cm to SE of the cup-and-ring motif, disappears under the peat at SW. A cluster of pickmarks (overall dims. 8cm NW-SE; 7cm NE-SW) is c. 25cm to SE and is enhanced by black moss within each individual pickmarks. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 3 March 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, this rock art may have held ritual or symbolic significance, possibly linked to landscape features such as the Behy River valley or surrounding mountains. Its meaning remains undeciphered, but such art often reflected spiritual beliefs or territorial markers in prehistoric societies.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.