Is this rock art?

[TheStandingStone]

I was at a church site near Clonaslee in Co. Laois recently and as I was leaving I saw this interesting rock perched on the top of the surrounding wall. There are many circular and horseshoe shaped marks on its surface all about 1-2cm in diameter. I haven't had much experience with rock art before so I'm not sure if this is anything at all or just natural...

[Marianne]

I have no idea really, ( a very helpful comment), but i saw something a couple of years ago, see picture, it has also round and horse shoe shaped marks, yours seem to be deeper, and mine have a bit of colour, when i showed my picture to somebody they said it were fossils, , now if it is the same, i don' t know, it would be nice to found out.

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[TheStandingStone]

Yeah yours do look like a natural phenomenon. Could be natural on the rock I found but the shapes are actually channels in the rock...you can feel them out with your finger. I may look around for recognised rock art that looks similar to get an idea. Would be great to find a piece of rock art in Laois.

[Roundwood]

These are Brachiopods - fossil shellfish from the Carboniferous (about 250 million years old. They are usually found in limestones.

[TheStandingStone]

Which picture were you referring to, my original ones or the pic Marianne posted in the reply?

Thanks for the input...I know little about fossils except I will one day be one.

[Roundwood]

The white shape of the shells is made fom calcite. This is easily eroded. That is why the first one looks different. The shapes look the same (would want to see them closer).

[Marianne]

Well, little did i realise that it was 250 million years old, can't get my head around that, and i see them quite regurlarly., that's great, i will look out for more.