Major Antiquities Find Claimed

Printed in The Irish Times 2 October 1980

What is claimed to be a major archaeological find has been made by a Dublin-based author, Mr. Martin Brennan, at Oldcastle, Co. Meath.

Mr. Brennan, who has written The Boyne Valley Vision, a study of script on stones dating from pre-historic times, made the find when studying the alignment on stones at Ballinvalley, near Oldcastle.

The combination of the spiral pattern with the lozenge form clearly linked the rock art with similar rock art found in the Boyne Valley, notably at Newgrange, Mr. Brennan said yesterday. The art was in the tradition of megalithic art and he estimated it was at least 5,000 years old. It was in excellent condition considering it was found face upwards and subject to weathering, presumably over a long period.

The find is being investigated by the National Museum.

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