What is recorded here

Mairi and Daemhan climbed the black slope at Magheranaul on a winter evening when the sea struck the Isle of Doagh like a hammer. They had come to count the small holes cut through the rock, but the rock gave back more than it should have. Each red mark moved one place, drawing a line toward the water. Mairi touched the first hole and remembered a child lost beneath the green swell. Daemhan touched the second and heard the child calling through stone. The third mark pointed at them, waiting to be answered.

About 200m SE of the rock art group (657) and 250m W of the group (656) is another set consisting of cupmarks, a cup-and-circle motif and two, more complex designs. It is in an area of considerable rock outcrop sloping S to the shore of the Isle of Doagh. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008 Excavation licence number 04E0183 Pre-development testing was carried out on 11 and 12 February 2004 at two adjacent development sites in Balloor, Magheranaul townland, Isle of Doagh, Co. Donegal. The proposed development was within the archaeological constraint for an example of rock art (SMR 4:44). Seven trenches, which were excavated by machine, measured 11m, 36.5m, 59.2m, 11.5m, 5.8m, 35m and 50.2m long respectively, 0.9-1.3m wide and 0-0.65m deep. The stratigraphy was the same in all trenches. On the surface was topsoil, below which was grey and orange plastic silty clay and bedrock. The bedrock outcropped in places. One sherd of modern pottery was recovered from the topsoil. The testing revealed evidence of natural undisturbed stratigraphy. Nothing of archaeological significance was uncovered. (Excavations Bulletin 2004) Richard Crumlish, 61 An Cladrach, Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo.

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the rock art at Magheranaul may have held ritual or symbolic significance, possibly linked to landscape features or celestial events. Cup-and-circle motifs are commonly associated with ceremonial or territorial marking in prehistoric contexts.

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