Oriented north to south along its long axis, this ancient monolith, catalogued as DG011-014, showcases one of Ireland's more intriguing examples of rock art. The eastern face of the stone reveals a carefully carved cup-and-circle motif alongside at least nineteen distinct cup marks; small, circular depressions that were painstakingly pecked into the rock face thousands of years ago. Additional possible cup marks on the western face hint at even more extensive decoration, though time and weather have made these less certain.

These enigmatic symbols, created during the Neolithic or Bronze Age, remain one of archaeology's enduring mysteries. Cup marks, found throughout Atlantic Europe, appear as shallow, rounded hollows typically measuring between 2 and 10 centimetres across. When combined with concentric circles, as seen here at Altashane or Cabadooey, they form part of a broader tradition of rock art that stretches from Scotland to Iberia. While their exact purpose remains unknown, theories range from astronomical markers to territorial boundaries, ritual significance, or even primitive maps.

The stone's placement in open pastureland means it remains accessible to those willing to seek it out, standing much as it has for millennia amongst grazing cattle and shifting seasons. Its documentation in the Archaeological Survey of County Donegal ensures that this piece of Ireland's prehistoric heritage is properly recorded for future generations, even as scholars continue to puzzle over the meanings behind these ancient markings.