Rock art, Magheranaul, Co. Donegal

Rock art, Magheranaul, Co. Donegal

Standing in a field in Magheranaul, County Donegal, this triangular orthostat rises 0.8 metres from the ground, its base measuring 1.1 metres across.

Rock art, Magheranaul, Co. Donegal

The southwest face of the stone bears two cup marks; circular depressions that were carefully carved into the rock face thousands of years ago. The larger of these measures 8 centimetres across and 2 centimetres deep, whilst the smaller spans 5 centimetres with a depth of just 1 centimetre. Intriguingly, the lower cup mark shows faint traces of what appears to be a ring encircling it, a detail that suggests this stone held particular significance for those who created it.

This ancient marker hasn’t stood alone through the centuries; it’s now been incorporated into a field boundary, blending prehistoric artistry with more recent agricultural practicality. The stone forms part of a wider landscape of rock art in the area, with two other decorated panels located just 9 metres to the northeast and 30 metres to the southwest. These nearby examples help paint a picture of an area that was clearly important to our ancestors, who took the time to mark multiple stones with their distinctive cup and ring designs.



About 160 metres to the northwest stands another ancient stone, adding to the concentration of prehistoric monuments in this corner of Donegal. Together, these features create a ritual landscape that would have held meaning for the communities who lived here during the Bronze Age. The careful positioning of these monuments, their decorated surfaces, and their survival through millennia offer us a tangible connection to Ireland’s distant past, preserved in the windswept fields of the county’s rural heartland.

Rated 0 out of 5

Good to Know

Tags

Visitor Notes

Review type for post source and places source type not found
Added by
Picture of IrishHistory.com
IrishHistory.com
IrishHistory.com is passionate about helping people discover and connect with the rich stories of their local communities.
Please use the form below to submit any photos you may have of Rock art, Magheranaul, Co. Donegal. We're happy to take any suggested edits you may have too. Please be advised it will take us some time to get to these submissions. Thank you.
Name
Email
Message
Upload images/documents
Maximum file size: 50 MB
If you'd like to add an image or a PDF please do it here.

Magheranaul, Co. Donegal
55.29025268, -7.31680689
55.29025268,-7.31680689
Magheranaul 
Settlement Sites 

Related Places