Rock art in An Lóthar

In improved pasture (56m OD), on E side of an oblong hillock, on a W-facing slope. Excellent views of Ballinskelligs Bay to NW and overlooked by Farraniaragh Mountain to E. A smooth and fractured, flaky sandstone rock outcrop (dims. 3.30m N-S; 2.60m E-W; max. H 1.50m at N) with an uneven surface, covered in lichens. It has a linear decorated surface (dims. 0.80m NE-SW; 0.36m NW-SE) upon its NW-face, having three possible cupmarks at SE edge of stone, including a cupmark (diam. 8cm; D 2cm) at E and a cupmark (diam. 9cm; D 2cm) at W end of decorated surface. A central cupmark (dims. 8cm x 9.5cm; D 1.5cm) is upon a slightly elevated area, having the impression of a ring (overall diam. 23cm) around it, however part of this may be a natural fracture. This stone is very prone to erosion due its exposed location and proximity to the coast, c. 900m to NW. Numerous natural solution marks and eroded holes upon its surface may suggest that the possible cupmarks are natural, however equally they could have been eroded beyond reasonable conclusion. This stone is similar in nature to possible rock art (KE106-142----). Loher Fort (KE106-015----) is c. 100m upslope to E. This monument was initially identified as rock art by A. Lambe (2013). Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 7 July 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, this rock art may have had ritual or territorial significance, possibly linked to landscape features such as Ballinskelligs Bay. Symbolic carvings could reflect spiritual beliefs or mark a sacred site within a wider ceremonial landscape.