What is recorded here

Rathruane More holds one of West Cork’s largest decorated rock surfaces, where cupmarks and ringed cups still mark a fractured slope above the river valley. The stones sit high enough to command views toward Mount Gabriel and Mount Corrin, suggesting whoever chiselled them chose the ridge deliberately. Lichen, rain and time have softened the lines, but the repeated circles and cups remain clear enough to trace across the western face.

In rough grazing with rock outcrops. Flat expanse of rock, extensively decorated with cupmarks including a cup-and-circle, a cup-and-two-circles, two cups surrounded by a figure-of-eight and six cups surrounded by a circle (Finlay 1973, 101). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009 In rough pasture and rock outcrop, on N-side of Rathruane river valley. Excellent views of Mount Gabriel to WSW and Mount Corrin to NW. A massive rock outcrop (dims. c. min. 35m E-W; c. 25m N-S; H c. 15m) (61m OD), which is very rough and fractured, bearing a decorated surface upon its W-facing aspect and a second area of decoration just below the summit, on E side. A linear decorated surface (dims. 1.73m E-W; 0.1m N-S) bearing five cupmarks (average diam. 7cm; D 5-7mm) is located in a long, naturally formed trough-like feature upon top of rock outcrop. The second decorated surface (dims. 1.50m E-W; 0.40m N-S), is located upon a uniform slope of the W-facing aspect of rock outcrop, c. 6.5m from flat summit. The decorative elements include a cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 25cm; ring Wth 3-4cm; D 2-5mm; cup diam. 6cm; D 18mm) at W. A single, possible cupmark (dims. 7cm x 6cm; D 10mm) is located c. 15cm to E. A central cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 19cm; ring Wth 2-4cm; D 2-5mm; cup diam. 4cm; D 5mm) is c. 0.21m to ENE. A cup-and-ring motif is c. 0.5m to E and is similar in size and form to the W cup-and-ring motif. An angled fracture abuts this motif to SW and W. Very faint and eroded by elements (natural processes). The motifs upon the W-facing aspect are very difficult to trace, being obscured by natural striations (long-axis E-W) on rock surface and frequent pit solution marks. Motifs are further obscured by white lichens and mosses. Potentially other motifs upon this rock outcrop which are currently obscured by furze. This rock outcrop is one of the highest points in this vicinity that isn’t classified as a hill or mountain. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 13 July 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the rock art at Rathruane More may have had ritual or symbolic significance, possibly linked to water sources or territorial markers. Cup-and-circle motifs are commonly associated with ceremonial or astronomical functions in prehistoric European rock art traditions.

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