Rock art in Kealduff Upper

Panel of rock art identified and described by Aoibheann Lambe as follows; 'In poorly drained cutaway bog, the upper surface of a roughly triangular-shaped earthfast rock (c. 1.5m N/S and (max.) 1.5m E/W) which is flush with ground level is very weathered with large portions of its laminations partially spalled away leaving only faint traces of the original pocking visible. The most readily identifiable motif is a cup with double ring (cup diam. 0.05m; outer ring diam. 0.14m), having an outer ring which is angular (forming a roughly pentagon-shaped ring) and, extending from its S side, a radial groove which continues clockwise to form an irregularly shaped ring (L. c. 1.2m) which curves around to rejoin the motif at its N side. The radial groove also runs in line with a groove at S which terminates in a cup-and-ring motif. East of the cup-and-double ring motif is another irregularly shaped sub-circular ring which encloses three or more cupmarks and a groove. The remainder of the motifs are ill-defined and include cupmarks (diam. 0.02-0.05m) and grooves' (pers. comm. A. Lambe 25/10/2022). See attached photographs provided courtesy of Aoibheann Lambe Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Aoibheann Lambe Date of upload: 4 November 2022

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the rock art at Kealduff Upper may have held ritual or symbolic significance, possibly linked to landscape features or early land use. Its meaning remains undeciphered, but such art often reflects spiritual beliefs or territorial markers in prehistoric communities.