Rock art in Gortleck

Greenhill disused graveyard is believed to be the site of Desertegny early ecclesiastical foundation (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 379). It contains the remains of a R.C. Church of 18th or 19th century date, aligned NW-SE. It is possible that the curved wall of the graveyard from E to S represents part of the line of an earlier enclosure (DG019-005006-). The graveyard contains a number of crude stone crosses (DG019-005002-) and cross-inscribed stones (DG019-005003-). One cross-shaped stone (DG019-005004-) NW of the church has a cupmark on each face (DG019-005005-). The stone (H 0.74m; T 0.07m) is crudely shaped, with a narrow shaft (Wth 0.19m) expanding at top to shallow arms (Wth 0.27m). There is a cup mark in the centre of the shaft on each broad face of the slab: on one face, the cup mark (diam. 0.05m; D 0.03m) is at the junction of the shaft and the arms, on the opposite face, the cup mark (diam. 0.07m; D 0.04m) is slightly lower on the shaft. The stone serves as a gravemarker. In the NE of the graveyard another stone used as a gravemarker has three cupmarks (DG019-005007-). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

Likely dating to the early Christian period, the rock art may have had religious or ritual significance, possibly associated with the nearby Desertegny ecclesiastical site. Its meaning remains unclear, though it may reflect prehistoric or medieval Christian symbolism.