What is recorded here

Aoibheann Lambe identified the site in 2014, revealing cup-and-ring marks carved into a sandstone block hidden inside a man-made hollow beside a disused turf bank. The stone sits on a gentle slope overlooking the Behy River valley, its faint designs partly swallowed by lichen and moss after centuries of exposure. A long radial groove cuts across the shoulder of the rock, continuing onto the opposite face as if the carver refused to be stopped by the edge of the stone.

This monument was initially identified as rock art by Aoibheann Lambe in 2014. In area of cutaway bog, on a gentle NE-facing slope (207m), overlooking Behy River valley to NE and overlooked by mountains SE->W->NE. In man-made hollow (dims. c. 12m N-S; c. 10m E-W; D c. 1-1.5m), c. 11m to NW of bog trackway; disused turf bank c. 5m to W. A slightly rough and unfractured, sandstone rock (dims. 1.00m NNE-SSW; 1.60m ESE-WNW; max. H 1.25m), which has a triangular decorated surface (dims. 1.40m ESE-WNW; 1.0m NNE-SSW) having a NE-facing aspect and a sub-rectangular decorated surface (dims. 0.60m NW-SE; 0.40m NE-SW) having a NW-facing aspect. Very weathered and faint rock art obscured by lichens. The motifs are concentrated upon the NE-facing decorated surface and consist of three cup-and-ring motifs (diam. 12-16cm) having a cupmark (diam. 4-7cm; D 3-6mm) and ring (Wth 1-2cm; D 3mm). One cup-and-partial ring motif (diam. 8cm) having a cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 6mm) and ring (Wth 8mm; D 2mm); Ring is present NE->E and a long radial groove (L 36cm; Wth 1cm; D 3mm) extends from the cupmark at W and extends across shoulder of stone and continues onto NW-facing decorated surface, where it continues for L 16cm. There is moss (L 13cm) on the shoulder of stone which appears to cover some of this radial groove. A cup-and-partial-two ring motif (diam. 16cm) having a cupmark (diam. 7cm; D 4mm) is located on N area of this decorated surface, near ground level; Interior ring (Wth 1cm; D 4mm) is complete and exterior ring is complete E->S->W. Second cup-and-partial-two ring motif (diam. 16cm) having a cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 5mm) has an incomplete inner ring (open to NW); A radial groove (Wth 8mm) extends from the cupmark at NW. One cup-and-partial-three ring motif (dims. 35cm NW-SE; 27cm NE-SW) having a cupmark (diam. 6cm; D 6mm) is off-centre to SE; Pronounced cupmark (diam. 7cm; D 20mm) upon exterior ring at W-side of this motif. A cluster of three cupmarks (diam. 2.5-7cm; D 3-20mm) of varying sizes in E-corner. Lines of pickmarks and meandering grooves upon this decorated aspect. A small number of simple motifs were recorded upon the NW-facing decorated surface and consist of a shallow cupmark (diam. 4cm; D 2mm) off-centre to NE. Two parallel grooves of pickmarks adjacent to SE. The shorter groove (L 25cm; Wth 1.5cm; D 3mm) turns at a right angle (dims. L 15cm NW-SE) and intersects the linear groove (dims. L 36cm NE-SW; Wth 1.5cm; D 3mm). A third, much shorter linear groove of pickmarks is recorded further to NW. All of these grooves continue onto the NE-facing decorated aspect. Rock art site (KE071-082001-) is c. 11m to N. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 3 March 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, this rock art may have had ritual or territorial significance, possibly linked to landscape features such as the nearby river and mountain ranges. Its meaning remains undeciphered, but such art often reflects symbolic or spiritual connections to the environment.

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