Rock art (present location)

The National Monuments Service's description

Two stones were found in close proximity to one another on the SE slopes of Knocknakilton, overlooking the Emlagh river valley. The smaller stone (KE045-032----) has been removed from the field fence into which it was incorporated and is now in the museum of Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne at Ballyferriter. The stone measures 1.2m x 0.8m x 0.07m to 0.15m thick. The markings are dominated by a large cup-and-3 circles with a radial line running from the central cup through a gap in the inner circle and across the outer circles. A diametrically opposed radial line is formed by a natural fissure. A possible cup-mark, badly eroded, lies between the 2 outer circles. The remainder of the motifs comprise at least 6 cup-marks, one now partially broken away, and a cup-and-circle which, though gapped, may once have been complete as the surface of the stone is spalled where the gap occurs.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey.' Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne (1986), 64, no. 189.

Updated by: Paul Walsh

Date of upload: 10 November 2014

Currently in the possession of Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne and housed in the West Kerry Museum, Ballyferriter. This represents the present location (KE042-172----) of one of two stones, found in close proximity to each another, on the SE slopes of Knocknakilton, overlooking the Emlagh river valley. According to Cuppage (1986, 64, Fig. 42c), this rock art example (KE045-032----) is the smaller of the two stones, ‘which has been removed from the field fence into which it was incorporated….this stone measures 1.2m x .8m x .07m to .15m thick. The markings are dominated by a large cup-and-3 circles with a radial line running from the central cup through a gap in the inner circle and across the outer circles. A diametrically opposed radial line is formed by a natural fissure. A possible cup-mark, badly eroded, lies between the 2 outer circles. The remainder of the motifs comprise at least 6 cup-marks, one now partially broken away, and a cup-and-circle which, though gapped, may once have been complete as the surface of the stone is spalled where the gap occurs’. A second example of rock art (KE045-032001-), recorded at the original location, remains in-situ.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 7 July 2017