Rock art in Coomasaharn

In area of blanket bog, on a N-facing slope (172m), overlooking Behy River valley to N. A slightly rough and fractured sandstone rock outcrop (dims. 2.00m N-S; 1.45m E-W; H 0.60m) with an irregular-shaped decorated surface (dims. 0.80m N-S (to waterline); 1.30m E-W) which is SE-facing. The rock art is weathered and faint and is concentrated across the central and southern areas of the rock surface. It consists of a partial cup-and-two ring motif (diam. 19cm) to SW, having a cupmark (diam. 6cm; D 10mm) and rings (Wth 1cm; D 2-3mm); the outer ring is open to N and a cupmark (diam. 4cm; D 6mm) abuts to W. A right angled linear groove (L32cm NE-SW; L 20cm NW-SE; Wth 2cm; D 3mm) off-centre to N, terminates in a small cup-and-ring motif to SW. A faint and narrow meandering groove extends to NW from the main groove and branches off to SW and NW terminating in at least one cupmark to NW. A large, oval cup-and-one ring motif (dims. 28cm N-S; 22cm E-W) is located to S of the right-angled linear groove and has a central cupmark (diam. 8cm; D 10mm) and ring (Wth 1cm; D 2-3mm) of pickmarks, which enclose a large area around the cupmark. Two large cupmarks (diam. 8cm; max. D 10mm) off-centre to S, have a triangle of three small cupmarks (diam. 4cm; D 3mm) in between. A large isolated cupmark is upon the NW area of the decorated surface. Pool of water and sphagnum moss at S-end may cover additional motifs e.g. a possible cup-and-ring motif which is located at the S-edge of decorated surface. Surface may have been prepared prior to applying main rock art motifs as there are a lot of pickmarks all over stone surface, similar to rock art site (KE071-011----) which is c. 5.4m to S. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 27 March 2017