Rock art in Ballyedmonduff

Situated on the lower slopes of Two Rock Mountain in a clearing in the forest, the land falls from NW to SE and the views are totally restricted by trees. When this monument was excavated in 1945 prior to the growth of forestry (Ó Ríordáin and De Valera, 1951-3), it commanded extensive views to the S and SE but the aspect was restricted somewhat upslope to the N and limited to the W. The decorated boulder is located within the cairn material of a wedge-tomb at Ballyedmonduff (DU025-045----). It was identified first during excavations (ibid. 71) lying loose on the southern side of the cairn between the kerb and the inner revetment. Rock art consisting of a block of granite (L.70cms, W.40cms and D.20cms), the right hand half of its surface is decorated with seven small cup-marks measuring between from 1.5-3 cms in overall diameter. The first two motifs, comprising two well-spaced cup marks are located at the centre of the boulder. These are followed to one side by a row of three cup marks commencing on a line midway between the first pair. Finally, in line with and above the last of the preceding row is a pair of motifs. The decoration on one half of the boulder surface provides a contrast with the undecorated other half. Compiled by: Margaret Keane and Padraig Clancy Revised upload on: 28 July 2018

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the rock art in Ballyedmonduff may have held ritual or symbolic significance, possibly linked to landscape orientation or seasonal markers. Its location in a wooded clearing suggests it was deliberately placed for visual or ceremonial use.