What is recorded here

Clearagh holds a shallow sandstone table where cup-and-ring marks merge into continuous lines rather than separate symbols. A field fence hid the stone until removal about 1953, freeing a surface that had waited beside lush pasture and river views. The marks resist easy counting because they connect, overlap and fade into one another. They do not announce themselves like grand monuments; they require patience, light and touch.

In pasture, on N-facing slope; table-like outcrop (Shee 1968, 145) of stone (L 2.65m; H 0.3m; Wth 1.55m). Decoration, revealed c. 1953 when landowner removed field fence, covers entire upper surface, except SW corner where surface is uneven; decoration divided into two sections by 'change in the level of the surface of the stone' (ibid.). Decoration picked but shallow, indistinct and 'difficult to describe' (ibid., see fig. 1). Northern half' framed by a broad well-picked line' parallel with the change in level but not continuous elsewhere; motifs include '5 cup-and-circle, each with a single circle' and 'seven other cupmarks each partly enclosed by a single arc' (ibid.). Decoration on southern half, itself divided by a natural crack, includes '3 cup and circle' and '5 cup-and-arc' motifs. According to Shee (ibid., 146), the decoration 'is quite untypical of Irish rock-art'. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). 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, lush pasture (226m OD), on a small plateau of a NNW-facing slope. Good views of Lee and Bride River valleys to N and NE respectively and The Paps Mountains to NW. A slightly rough and unfractured sandstone boulder (dims. 3.20m N-S; 2.20m E-W; H 0.75m at NW; H 0.90m at S) having a flat, sub-oval decorated surface, which has a split level of two distinct areas to N and S. The portion of the decorated surface (dims. 1.35m N-S; 1.20m E-W) to N, bears a picked linear motif and twelve cup-and-ring motifs of which seven are incomplete. The portion of the decorated surface (dims. S half 1.00m N-S; 1.15m E-W) to S, bears eight cup-and-ring motifs of which five are incomplete. No motifs evident to SE, where surface of stone is uneven and there are deep solution marks. Decorative elements were obscured by a dried out layer of slurry at time of site visit. According to Shee (1968, 145), decoration is picked but shallow, indistinct and 'difficult to describe'. The N half 'framed by a broad well-picked line' parallel with the change in level but not continuous elsewhere; motifs include '5 cup-and-circle, each with a single circle' and 'seven other cupmarks each partly enclosed by a single arc' (ibid). Decoration on southern half, itself divided by a natural crack, includes '3 cup and circle' and '5 cup-and-arc' motifs (ibid). According to Shee (ibid, 146), there were ‘few distinguishable motifs’ and ‘all patterns connect up with, or merge into, other patterns’ and the decoration 'is quite untypical of Irish rock-art'. According to Shee (ibid), the decoration was revealed c. 1953 when a field fence was removed. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 7 July 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the rock art at Clearagh may have had ritual or symbolic significance, possibly linked to territorial markers or spiritual beliefs. The extensive decoration suggests it was a focal point for prehistoric communities in the area.

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