Rock art in Letter West

This monument was initially identified as rock art by Aoibheann Lambe in 2016. In an area of cutaway bog and mountain heath, on a gentle NE-facing slope (179m OD), overlooking Behy River valley to NE and overlooked by mountains SE->W->NE. Turf banks located to SE, E and N. A slightly rough and fractured, sandstone boulder (dims. 2.65m NE-SW; 1.25m NW-SE; max. H 0.75m at N), having a decorated surface to NE and S bearing weathered and faint motifs. The NE-facing decorated surface (dims. 0.40m N-S; 0.70m E-W) consists of three clusters of pickmarks: The main cluster (dims. 17cm N-S; 15cm E-W) of pickmarks (each diam. 5mm; D 2mm) is located centrally upon this stone surface, to SE of a deep fissure (long-axis NE-SW). This cluster incorporates a semi-circular arc (dims. 11cm ENE-WSW; 4m NNW-SSE) which is open to S and encloses further pickmarks. A small area of pickmarks (dims. 4cm N-S; 6cm E-W) is located c. 15cm to N, on the opposite side of the deep fissure. Another small cluster of pickmarks (dims. 4cm N-S; 13cm E-W) is located c. 28cm to W of the main cluster. The S-facing decorated surface (dims. 0.30m NE-SW; 0.10m NW-SE) consists of a cluster (dims. 10cm NNE-SSW; 4cm WNW-ESE) of pickmarks which are located c. 50cm to S of the main cluster. A possible cupmark (dims. 4.5cm N-S; 7cm E-W; D 4mm) is located c. 22cm to SW of these pickmarks. Small, natural depressions (dims. 2-3cm; D 3mm) to SW. Rock art site (KE071-087----) is c. 14m to NNW. 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 held ritual or territorial significance, possibly linked to landscape features such as the Behy River valley. Its meaning remains undeciphered, but such art often reflects symbolic communication or spiritual beliefs of early communities.