What is recorded here

Rock art in Derrynablaha carries tiny pickmarks, one small cupmark and a sharp three-pointed star on a sandstone ledge above the Kealduff River valley. The markings are small enough to be read as handwork yet placed where the hill, sky and water can all be seen at once. Whatever life led someone to strike that stone, the ledge still holds the shape of the act: a little pressure applied far from any road, in a place where being seen and being hidden both belong.

In mountain pasture, on a steep NE-facing slope (181m OD); Lots of boulders and rocks scattered across hillside to SW and this is one of the largest rocks at the NE-side of this rock scatter. Excellent views of Kealduff River valley, Lough Brin to NE and mountains N->E->ESE; Overlooked by higher ground S->W->NW. A slightly rough and fractured sandstone rock outcrop (dims. 2.30m NE-SW; 1.20m NW-SE; max. H 0.45m) with a trapezoidal-shaped decorated surface (dims. 0.90m NE-SW; 0.80m NW-SE) which has a SE-facing aspect. The rock art is clearly visible and consists of a series of finely carved pickmarks (diam. 6mm; D 3mm) concentrated across SE-area of decorated surface. A small cupmark (diam. 1.5cm; D 2mm) is on the upper area of the decorated surface, at the edge of the pickmark concentration. An unusual star-shaped motif (dims. 20cm NW-SE; 15cm NE-SW) is located on the lowest portion of this rock face, at the SE-end. It is comprised of three linear scores (L 20cm; Wth 5mm; D 2mm) intersecting at a central point and forming a star-shape; unclear if this is contemporary with the other rock art. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 27 March 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the rock art may have had ritual or territorial significance, possibly linked to landscape features such as the nearby Kealduff. Its meaning remains unclear, but such sites were often associated with symbolic or ceremonial use in prehistoric communities.

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