Rock art in Ballynakilly Upper

In centre of improved pasture field, on a NW-facing slope (166m OD). Distant view of Atlantic Ocean to N, between Drung Hill and Droum; Coomasaharn mountains to W. A substantial sandstone boulder (dims. 4.40m NW-SE; 3.50m NE-SW; max. H 1.80m), which has three roughly rectangular decorated surfaces: The main decorated surface (dims. 1.30m NW-SE; 0.50m NE-SW) is located close to ground level at NE-side of NW-facing aspect; the second decorated surface (dims. 0.65m N-S; 0.20m E-W) is on top of the boulder and the third decorated surface (dims. 3.2m N-S; 2.3m E-W) is on the SE-facing aspect. The boulder is slightly rough and fractured and the rock art is weathered yet traceable. The main concentration of motifs are upon the NE-facing aspect and consist of two similar motifs each comprising of a simple cross enclosed by a circular ring at S-side of decorated surface. The western cross-and-ring motif (dims. 15cm N-S; 14cm E-W; D 4mm) is connected to the eastern cross-and-ring motif (dims. 18cm N-S; 15cm E-W; D 4mm) by a linear groove (L14cm; Wth 1cm; D 3-4mm). A second linear groove (L 20cm; D 4mm) links the eastern cross-and-ring motif to a cup-and-two-ring motif, at NW. This cup-and-two-ring motif (diam. 18cm) has a cupmark (diam. 2cm; D 3mm) which is enclosed by a complete inner ring and an incomplete outer ring that is truncated by a linear groove (L 12cm) at W. A penannular ring (dims. 9cm N-S; 8cm E-W; D 4mm) formed by obvious pickmarks and open at S, is located 3cm to N. A number of linear grooves are noted to N and NW of the cup-and-two-ring motif, the longest groove (L 42cm N-S; Wth 3.5cm) is to N. A possible cup-and-ring motif (dims. 10cm NW-SE) is truncated by a linear groove (L 19cm NNW-SSE; Wth 3cm) across the NE-sector. Two cupmarks (diam. 3-4cm; D 4-5mm) are located to NW. A long, meandering groove and possible solution marks are located further to W. It should be noted that some of the linear grooves may be modern as they have a relatively fresh appearance. The top of the boulder is generally level and bears two cup-and-two-ring motifs (aligned N-S). The northern cup-and-two-ring motif (diam. 14cm) has a cupmark (diam . 1.5cm; D 2mm) and rings (Wth 1cm; D 2-3mm). The inner ring is complete and the outer ring is truncated (long-axis N-S) across the W-side by a linear groove (L 15cm N-S; Wth 3cm; D 3mm). The second cup-and-two-ring motif (diam. 16cm) having a cupmark (diam. 2cm; D 4mm) and rings (Wth 1cm; D 3mm) is located 12cm to S. A linear groove (L 19cm N-S; Wth 2cm; D 4mm) extends from 1cm to S of the outer ring. Again, these grooves are possibly modern as they appear fresh. The SE-facing aspect of the boulder also bears rock art in the form of a curvilinear groove (L 2.40m N-S; Wth 3cm; D 4-5mm) situated toward the W-side. A second curvilinear groove (L 0.64m NE-SW; Wth 4cm; D 3mm) is located off 1m to E, at its closet point. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 3 March 2017