Unusual markings on hillside

deadlybuzzman

Around the same time as the droughts started to highlight old buildings and ruins these shapes started to appear on a local hill.
I asked a local archaeologist about it and she wasn't sure what to make of it as the ground is very step so you couldn't build on it, it would be hard to not use your hands when walking on it.
The 2 on the left are on slightly less steep ground.
Has anyone ever come across anything like this?

deadlybuzzman

Pic

slowburner

deadlybuzzman wrote: »

Pic

Possibly rings caused by fungus. Also known as fairy rings!

slowburner

The outcropping bedrock on the left appears to have been worked.

It would be useful to see closer photos but please bear in mind that we all have a duty to maintain social/physical distance and respect travel restrictions.

If the outcrop has been worked, it’s possible that the rings could indicate the remains of secondary stone working pits

deadlybuzzman

I'll not be able to get much closer for a while yet. Farmers won't want anyone at gates etc nor do I.
There is a ring Fort and a cairn v close by if that might have any relevance

Meteorite58

To rule out WW2 Eire signs have included a pic , they seem to have been all created in capital letters, and were located around the coast, don't know where your pic was taken. If it is that steep, maybe fanciful thinking , was wondering if it might be some type of rock art sculpture, like laid down stone especially being so near to a cairn and a ring fort, might have had high standing individuals in the area one time. Not sure if any large scale art pieces have ever been found in Ireland like the older chalk figures in England .

Maybe just sheep tracks ?

Sometimes worth looking at Google Satellite maps to see if anything shows up.

Will be interesting to see close up shots at some stage.

magicbastarder

anything at all visible on satellite imagery?

deadlybuzzman

That was 1 theory I heard a local throw about, that it was a local chieftain marking his territory as that hillside can be seen for miles.
I'll have a look on Google but it's unlikely that much will show as this only became visible last summer

cfuserkildare

Try the NMI database

deadlybuzzman

https://maps.app.goo.gl/KJjB3EyQEdLAWuv57

magicbastarder

there's a circular feature maybe 100m SSE of that section, if i see correctly? i assume that's the ring fort you mentioned?

nothing particularly obvious on the footage on the OSI website for the features you have in the photo, bar some faint lines which could be old field boundaries, maybe?

deadlybuzzman

magicbastarder wrote: »

there's a circular feature maybe 100m SSE of that section, if i see correctly? i assume that's the ring fort you mentioned?

nothing particularly obvious on the footage on the OSI website for the features you have in the photo, bar some faint lines which could be old field boundaries, maybe?

Great spot! That's the remnants of a cairn, there is also a faint ring Fort as you drive towards the hill and t junction.