Rock art in Ballybane West

Adjacent to secondary Ballydehob to Bantry road, overlooking Roaringwater Bay and 300m SE of similar site (CO131-039---). Rock outcrop, known locally as "The Rock of the Rings"; decorated with circles, complete and penannular, five cupmarks and some straight lines (Finlay 1973, 103-104). See attached screenshots of 3D model of the rock art panel created by archaeology.ucc. 3D model can be accessed at the Sketchfab website: https://skfb.ly/SJNO The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009 In improved pasture (59m OD), on a SE-facing slope, adjacent to W of a roadside boundary. Limited views from this location and overlooked by higher ground to NW. A smooth and fractured expanse of sandstone rock (dims. 8.00m N-S; 3.00m E-W) which is irregular in plan and has a flat decorated surface (dims. 7.50m N-S; 3m E-W) bearing motifs of varying size and form. The largest motifs consist of five oval and circular ringmarks: A sub-circular ringmark (overall dims. 49cm N-S; 47cm E-W; ring Wth 2.5cm; D 8mm) is to SW and a sub-oval ringmark (dims. 0.50m NNW-SSE; 0.46m WSW-ENE; ring Wth 3-3.5cm; D 9mm) is to NW of the decorated surface; A linear groove (L min. 27cm; Wth 1cm; D 2mm) is adjacent to W of latter. A relatively small, circular ringmark (dims. 30cm N-S; 28cm E-W) and an oval ringmark (dims. 54cm N-S; 64cm E-W) are adjacent to E; These motifs are linked by a gently curving groove; The latter intersects at a right angle, with a linear groove (L 90cm; Wth 2.5cm; D 3mm) which extends across W area of rock surface. A cupmark (diam. 6cm; D 9mm) is adjacent to S of the linear groove and a second cupmark (diam. 5.5cm; D 8mm) and a third cupmark (diam. 7cm; D 14mm) are adjacent to N. A linear rock fracture (long-axis N-S) extends across the rock, forming a division of the decorated surface. The largest oval ringmark (dims. 48cm N-S; 64cm E-W) is located adjacent to E of this natural fracture. An oval cupmark (overall dims. 5cm N-S; 8cm E-W; D 25mm) is located at perimeter, to N. A large sub-circular ringmark (dims. 0.33m N-S; 0.30m E-W) is to NE of decorated surface. It encloses a relatively small, central cupmark (diam. 5.5cm; D 5mm); A circular cupmark (diam. 5.5cm; D 6mm) is adjacent to SW. According to local information, this rock art panel is known as ‘The Rock of the Rings’. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 13 July 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the rock art at "The Rock of the Rings" may represent symbolic or ritual markings, possibly linked to seasonal cycles, territorial boundaries, or early mythological themes. The term "Rings" may connect to local folklore or the visual motif of circular designs common in prehistoric art.