Rock art in Letter West

In upland heath, on a gentle NE-facing slope (174m OD); Stream close to E and a trackway is c. 7m to SE. Overlooked by mountains SE->W->NE and overlooking Behy River valley to NE. A slightly rough and fractured, sandstone rock outcrop (dims. 3.30m N-S; 1.80m E-W; max. H 0.40m at N) that is a generally flat and low in profile (min. H 0.10m) which has a higher surface at N-end (max. H 0.40m). It has an irregular decorated surface (dims. 3.00m N-S; 1.80m E-W) which has a slight NE-facing aspect. A shallow land drain (long-axis NE-SW) abuts to N. The rock art is very weathered yet visible, covering most of the stone surface, being concentrated toward S-half of the decorated surface. Twenty-six cupmarks (diam. 3-8cm; D 4-12mm) of varying sizes were noted mainly across S-half of the stone and three upon the high area of rock surface at the N-end. A possible cup-and-one ring motif (diam. 8cm) having a cupmark (diam. 1.5cm; D 3mm) and ring (Wth 1cm; D 3mm) of pickmarks SE->W->N, is located centrally at W-end of decorated surface. Highly decorated surface of pickmarks (diam. 5mm; D 2-4mm) across decorated surface, except the rough, high area at N-end. These form a series of meandering lines and others are concentrated in clusters. A distinct line of pickmarks (L 1m E-W; Wth 2cm; D 3mm) terminating in a shallow cupmark at W, is off-centre to S. It is possible that these meandering picked lines represent a map of routeways between settlements. There may be more motifs upon this rock surface, under the surrounding peat. Rock art site (KE071-083----) is c. 4m to SSW. Initially identified as rock art by Aoibheann Lambe (2014). Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 27 March 2017