What is recorded here

Identified as a rock art site by A. Lambe in 2014, the Caherlehillan outcrop holds three weathered cupmarks on a smooth sandstone ledge. They sit half-hidden beneath lichen and sod, facing the River Ferta valley and Valencia Harbour. A roofless stone shed waits thirty metres away, suggesting the ledge served a living landscape rather than standing as a dead curiosity.

In NE corner of pasture field, on a low rise of rock outcrop, on a SW-facing slope; Excellent view of River Ferta valley down to Valencia Harbour. A smooth and unfractured sandstone rock outcrop (dims. 0.89m E-W; 0.74m N-S; max. H 0.29m at N) having a triangular decorated surface (dims. 0.23m E-W; 0.10m N-S) which is generally level. The motifs consist of three very weathered cupmarks, obscured by lichens and some may be covered in sod on W side of rock outcrop. Cupmark (diam. 6cm; D 6mm) is off-centre to W of stone surface and a small cupmark (diam. 3cm; D 3mm) is located c. 2cm to E. A third cupmark (diam. 5cm; D10mm) is 7cm to E. Roofless stone shed c. 30m to SW. Monument identified as a rock art site by A. Lambe (2014). Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 31 May 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the rock art at Caherlehillan may have held ritual or territorial significance, possibly linked to landscape features such as the River Ferta valley and Valencia Harbour. Such sites were often used for symbolic communication or as markers within prehistoric social or spiritual networks.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.