Rock art in Letter West

Only the upper surfaces of two neighbouring decorated panels are exposed, the rest of the decorated rock surfaces continuing down into the boggy pasture. Only 1 meter apart, it is probable that the two panels form part of the same outcrop. The rock art on each of the two panels is distinct, the most readily visible carving on the panel to E consisting of one cupmark and curvilinear lines of picking (Wth. 0.02m) forming curvilinear shapes which decrease in size from NE to SW. The carving on the panel to W is characterised by a plastic style of carving, with narrower lines of picking (Wth. 0.005–0.01m) tracing the edges of the panel and its contoured shapes. An unusual motif on its upper surface consists of a solidly picked sub-rectangular area. The exposed upper portion of the W panel is squarish in plan with sides c. 0.7m long. The upper surface slopes upwards to S while a portion of a lower level of the rock is visible at S and is inscribed with two circular areas of picking and a network of picked lines which disappear into the boggy surface where they are no longer traceable. A line of picking follows the edge of the upper surface at NE, SE and SW, a second line of picking running parallel to but 0.16m below the line of picking along the upper edge at SW. The upper surface is naturally sculptural in form, being composed of a series of sections of varying heights and angles of slope which are divided from one another by curved steps. A line of picking follows the contours of a step from the NE side towards the middle of the panel where it then curves in line with step at S edge, continues to the SW edge and runs down the SW facing side, intersecting two NW/SE running lines in the process, and running parallel to and roughly equidistant from each of the lines running towards ground level from the corners at S and W. The SW face is also inscribed with 2 small clusters of of picking (diam. 0.03m) close to the central intersection of lines. On the upper surface, there is a faint network of finely picked lines (Wth. 5mm), one of these lines extending towards SE from the solidly picked sub-rectangular area which is adjacent to the NW side and in close proximity to a natural hollow (diam. 0.025m, D. 0.035m). The solidly picked area (L. 0.09m x Wth. 0.05m) appears to be partly formed by two overlapping cupmarks (having diam.s 0.05m), concentric rings of picking visible at the N end of the motif. Compiled by: Aoibheann Lambe Date of upload/revision: 3 December 2018