Ballystokes Rock Art

Map Reference: J526457 (3526, 3457)



At Ballystokes a large slab about 4m long is covered with cup-and-ring marks. Motifs like these have been found in Neolithic passage tombs and on many sites which have been shown to be Bronze Age. The absence of other passage tomb motifs and the repeated use of the cup-and-ring suggest that Ballystokes belongs to the Early Bronze Age. There are at least seven cup-and-ring marks and many more cup-marks. Some of the carvings have double rings with a channel leading from the cup out through the rings. A hoard of five porcellanite axes was found nearby and the site is overlooked by Slieve na Griddle which has a hilltop cairn which may be Neolithic.