As Laghoas / P. Minas

Photo of the photogrammetric study of the 4 panels done by the council of Catoira (of Viking fame).

Close-up of the ‘newer’ section underneath the main rings of Laghoas 3.

As Laghoas 2

Another panel around Laghoas Tor with the size of the rings slightly above the average for Gallaecian cup-and-ring motifs (usually around the 60 cm mark). There are a few other minor c’n’r’s on the edge (not visible in the photo).

The design, in its own panel, for context and scale. This stone will be called Laghoas 1. As mentioned, much of it is still buried, and the surface might even extend to the other three stones nearby (the designs to the right of the panel were invisible until only a couple of years ago when some more turf was removed). A lovely welcome metaphor as regards what we may know about prehistory – it only allows us to get a ‘glimpse’ of the whole picture, tests our patience and teaches us humble respect, in our XXIst c. ‘safety chamber’ of arrogance / ignorance / anxiety. I have not managed to capture the tiny ones on the edge to the left of this photo but, as all rock art enthusiasts know, prehistoric rock art and light are friend and foe on equal terms! Beware the fury of a patient man.

One of many prehistoric designs distributed all over four panels, even though various undiscovered sections may still lie hidden under the turf. Indeed, some of these designs have only seen the light in recent years. The rock art complex is dominated by an imposing stone tor, one of many tors around Mount Xiabre (648 m) sheltering dozens of other rock art sites still being discovered as we speak.