Measuring just 0.6 metres long and 0.47 metres wide, it is modest even by the standards of early medieval grave markers. What sets it apart is its carved surface: a single cup-mark, which is a shallow circular hollow pecked or ground into the stone, accompanied by traces of horizontal and vertical lines. The precise meaning of such markings is not fully understood, but cup-marks appear on prehistoric and early Christian monuments across Ireland, suggesting the stone may carry layers of use or meaning that stretch across centuries.

The slab has been secured to the external face of the south wall of Rathmichael Church, a site recorded under the archaeological reference DU026-050002. The church itself sits on the eastern slopes of Carrickgollogan, the low hill that rises above the south Dublin coastline near Shankill. The graveslab is documented in Healy's 2009 survey of the area, which records both its dimensions and a drawn record of its carved face. That drawing remains one of the clearest ways to read the markings, which are worn enough on the actual stone to require some patience to make out.

Rathmichael is accessible from the road south of Shankill, and the ecclesiastical enclosure, which includes the church remains and a round tower stump, is a recognised archaeological site. The graveslab sits in plain view once you locate the south wall, though the carvings are shallow and benefit from raking light, so overcast days or the low sun of morning or late afternoon will bring the lines and cup-mark into better relief than midday brightness. For those unable to visit in person, a three-dimensional model of the stone is available online at skfb.ly/oH8xp, which allows the surface to be examined from multiple angles and gives a clearer sense of its modest but genuinely curious detail.