What is recorded here

Macklaun Mountain still holds the Neesha rock art, where four carved marks sit on a smooth sandstone boulder above the Meelagh River valley. A broken ring, an open ring, a small cup inside that opening and an oval ring appear across less than a metre of stone. They face the light, expose themselves to rain and invite people to wonder what they recorded before writing existed.

In mountain heath (258m OD), on SE-facing spur of Macklaun Mountain, overlooking valley of Meelagh River to S and SE. Excellent views of surrounding landscape, particularly along valley to Caragh Lake at NE and the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and Carrauntoohill to ENE. A smooth and fractured sandstone boulder (dims. 2.05m NNW-SSE; 1.9m ENE-WSW; H 1.2m at S) which is rectangular in plan. It has a roughly rectangular-shaped decorated surface (dims. 0.6m NNW-SSE; 0.9m ENE-WSW) which has an ENE-facing aspect. The decorated surface bears four motifs which are clearly visible. A large, irregular ringmark (dims. 29cm N-S; 26cm E-W) defined by a ring (Wth 1.5cm; 2-3mm) with a narrow gap at NE, is located centrally upon the decorated surface. A large penannular ring (dims. 27cm NE-SW; 22cm NW-SE) is adjacent to E. This motif is open to W, where the space is occupied by a cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 13cm; ring Wth 1.5cm; D 2-3mm; cup diam. 4.5cm; D 4mm). An oval ringmark (dims. 18cm NE-SW; 16cm NW-SE) defined by a ring (Wth 1-1.5cm; D 2-3mm) is to SW. A number of linear and oval solution marks are evident upon this stone’s surface. There is a possible cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 3mm) and some random pickmarks on a large flat stone adjacent to E. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 July 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the rock art at Neesha may have held ritual or symbolic significance, possibly relating to landscape orientation or territorial markers. Its prominent position suggests it could have been used for ceremonial purposes or as a landmark within a wider prehistoric landscape.

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