Back to the Neolithic

An action-packed day, satartign with coffee and courgette/chocolate cake at Robert and Finola's place - see the extra for the view from their house. Then we all went off for an explore. They had received an email from John who reckoned he had some rock art on his land - Finola is the one to call in this instance. Did we want to come too? We did, down tiny windy roads leading towards Union Hall.  We were greeted by John, a well travelled Harley Davis enthusiast and a very knowledgeable local historian, his family had lived on the land for generations. The stone was in a boundary wall and Robert and Finola leapt with joy for it was authentic! John was thrilled as they identified numerous cup marks, one surrounded by a circle and a dumb bell motif - two cup marks joined together with a line. Astonishing to think this could be around 5000 years old and we really only have theories as to what it was all about. Orion's Belt and equinoxes was mentioned.  Now they have to do the recording.

We left them to it and in a Neolithic mood carried on to Drombeg stone circle - the jewel in the crown of Cork circles. It is very impressive but rather manicured. It also has a fulachta fia - a Bronze Age cooking area - the water was poured (from the well to the left) into the rectangular basin and then heated with red hot stones. It took 18 minutes for the water to come to the boil. Then chunks of meat were chucked in and cooked. That's one theory, others include  include a sauna or a tannery! 
Very satisfying.