Rock art in Clonfinlough

National Monument No. 336. Located on SW facing slope of rising pasture with good views of Fin Lough located 360m to SW. Large earthfast boulder (dims. 3m E-W x 2.8m N-S; max. H 0.75m) known today as 'The Clonfinlough Stone' and previously known as the ‘Fairy’s Stone’ and the ‘The Horseman’s Stone’ (Graves 1865, 360) the surface of which is covered with water solution holes, incised lines and several other unusual symbols or features such as elongated crosses some of which may be artificial while others are the result of natural weathering. It has been suggested that similar decorated stones in NW Spain have been dated to the Bronze Age (Jackson 1967, 11-19). The surface of the stone is decorated with a series of cruciform shapes, incomplete T-shaped lines, a possible representation of a footprint and several longitudinal and transverse lines. It has been suggested that many of these symbols or lines may be fortuitous, the result of dip and strike joints modified and deepened by chemical solution. However, it has also been concluded that some or all of the original solution-modified grooves may have been retouched or deepened artificially (ibid. 11-19). Graves suggested that the footprint on the surface of the stone may indicate that the boulder was used as an Inauguration stone (Graves 1865, 361; Fitzpatrick 2004, 115, 239). The lower part of the stone contains eleven motifs called ‘phi figures’ which consists of an oval shape similar to a Greek letter φ with vertical line descending down from the oval shaped head. In 2002 the carvings on the stone were re-evaluated by Shee Twohig (2002, 99-113) who concluded that ‘the ovals or Ds forming the phi motifs must clearly be accepted as artificial. It is possible, therefore, that this boulder may have had naturally occurring circular and elongated hollows and possibly some longitudinal grooves more or less symmetrically arranged to form crosses, together with ovals to form phi motifs’ (Shee Twohig, 2002 105). Shee Twohig suggests that the phi motif could be interpreted as a version of the cross motif or as anthropomorphic figures (ibid., 108) and that these motifs probably date from the historic period possibly associated with the monastic site of Clonmacnoise (ibid., 109). See attached screenshot of 3D model of Clonfinlough stone created by Digital Heritage Age under the direction of Gary Dempsey and Orla Peach Power. Photogrammetric 3D model can be accessed at the following website: https://skfb.ly/6szwS The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 25 January 2016 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 44/1935).