The rock art features four distinct elements: a prominent central cup-mark surrounded by two concentric circles, a smaller cup-mark with similar double circles in the upper right corner, and two plain cup-marks; one in the upper left corner and another, slightly elongated, near the lower left. This pattern of decoration, first documented by Nolan in 1994, represents the kind of abstract symbolism that Bronze Age communities carved into stone surfaces across Ireland, though the specific meaning of these marks remains a mystery.

The panel exemplifies the cup-and-ring tradition found throughout Atlantic Europe, where prehistoric peoples marked significant stones with these enigmatic symbols between roughly 3000 and 1000 BCE. The combination of plain cup-marks alongside those with surrounding rings suggests this might have been created over multiple periods, or perhaps held different ritual or territorial meanings for those who carved them. The careful arrangement of the four separate marks across the stone’s surface indicates deliberate planning rather than random decoration.

Unfortunately, recent attempts to locate this decorated stone have proved unsuccessful, despite the area marked on historical Ordnance Survey maps being thoroughly searched. The discrepancy suggests either the National Grid Reference recorded for the stone contains errors, or environmental changes around Lough Fad have obscured or possibly buried this remarkable piece of prehistoric art. Such situations aren’t uncommon with rock art sites in Ireland, where stones can become overgrown, shift position, or sink into boggy ground over time, making these ancient artworks frustratingly elusive for modern researchers and visitors alike.