Rock Art, LETTER WEST

Rock Art in Ireland, dating from the Bronze Age

In mountain heath and area of cutaway bog (177m OD), on a gentle NE-facing slope. A lot of rock outcrop and small boulders are visible across this area, where peat has been reduced in height. Excellent view of Behy River valley to NE and overlooked by horseshoe arrangement of mountains SE->SW->N. A slightly rough and fractured sandstone (dims. 2.40m NW-SE; 1.10m NE-SW; max. H 0.55m at NE) boulder, which is subrectangular in plan and has a decorated aspect to NE (1.90m NW-SE; 0.55m NE-SW) and SW (1.90m NW-SE; 1.00m NE-SW). The motifs upon both aspects are weathered, yet traceable and there is evidence of freeze-thaw action causing surface cracking. The NE-facing aspect is very steeply sloping and bears four lines of pickmarks (long-axis NE-SW; Wth 2-3cm; D 5-6mm) varying in length (L 0.52m; 0.25m, 0.45m and 0.45m respectively from SE to NW). These lines may have continued over the shoulder to the SW-facing aspect, but weathering may have eroded motifs on this side. A small cluster of three pickmarks are located at NW; Two natural hollows close to S. The SW-facing aspect bears eleven circular cupmarks (diam. 4-6cm; D 5-10mm) across decorated surface and a sub-oval cupmark (dims. 7cm x 5.5cm; D 8mm) toward SE area. Two of the cupmarks appear to be linked by a line of three pickmarks at SE end of decorated surface; A cluster of pockmarks (dims. 4.5cm x 2cm; D 4mm) is adjacent to SW

Period:
Bronze Age

Coordinates:
52.01°N, 10.01°W

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