Rock art, Altashane Or Cabadooey, Co. Donegal
Situated on elevated grassland in County Donegal, the rock art at Altashane (also known as Cabadooey) offers visitors a glimpse into Ireland's prehistoric past.
Rock art, Altashane Or Cabadooey, Co. Donegal
This modest but intriguing site features a rock outcrop whose surface bears four cup marks; simple circular depressions carved into the stone thousands of years ago. The location itself is striking, with sweeping views extending eastward across the landscape, suggesting this spot held particular significance for those who created these ancient markings.
Just 18 metres to the west stands a decorated standing stone, catalogued as DG011-014, which features both cup and ring marks. These combined motifs, where circular depressions are surrounded by carved rings, represent a more elaborate form of prehistoric art commonly found across Ireland, Scotland, and northern England. The proximity of these two decorated stones suggests this area may have served as a focal point for ritual or ceremonial activities during the Bronze Age, though the exact purpose and meaning of such rock art remains one of archaeology’s enduring mysteries.
The site exemplifies the type of prehistoric art scattered across Ireland’s Atlantic fringe, where ancient communities left their mark on the landscape in ways we’re still trying to fully understand. Whether these symbols served as territorial markers, held astronomical significance, or played a role in prehistoric belief systems, they remain a tangible connection to Ireland’s distant past, carved into stones that have weathered millennia on this Donegal hillside.





