Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

This stone was located in a cultivated field on the lower N facing slopes of Knocknafreaghaun ridge, which extends from Macgillycuddy's Reeks. Extensive views may be had from the site to N and E. The stone was blasted in the 1950s, and fragments of it were used to line a well. Prior to this at least four feet (1.2m) had been broken off one of its ends (Hussey 1909, 103). It was an earthfast boulder of sandstone, approximately .75m high and at least 3.7m long. Its longer axis lay N-S and its decorated upper surface, which was covered in rock art motifs, sloped slightly upwards from both ends towards the centre (Cooke 1906, 9-10). These motifs consisted of at least forty-three cupmarks, twenty-one cup-and-rings, three cup-and-three rings and one cup-and-four rings. Some of the cupmarks were joined by radial grooves. The largest motif on the boulder was one foot (.3m) in diameter (O'Connell 1939b, 131). A number of other hollows may have been of natural origin (Hussey 1909, 104).

See attached drawing of rock art taken from O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996, Fig. 61 and photo Plate 29

The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 327. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

In gently undulating pasture (50m OD), close to foothills of MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. Gaddagh River to W and excellent views of MacGillycuddy’s Reeks to S. Not seen. According to local information, the rock art stone was blasted by a dynamite contractor in the 1950s and the stone used to line a well in nearby Carhoonahone townland. It is unknown the precise location of the well or if it is still in use (ibid). According O’Sullivan & Sheehan (1996, 96-97: Fig. 61; Plate 29), ‘This stone was located in a cultivated field on the lower N-facing slopes of Knocknafreaghaun ridge, which extends from Macgillycuddy's Reeks. Extensive views may be had from the site to N and E. The stone was blasted in the 1950s, and fragments of it were used to line a well. Prior to this at least four feet (1.2m) had been broken off one of its ends (Hussey 1909, 103). It was an earthfast boulder of sandstone, approximately .75m high and at least 3.7m long. Its longer axis lay N-S and its decorated upper surface, which was covered in rock art motifs, sloped slightly upwards from both ends towards the centre (Cooke 1906, 9-10). These motifs consisted of at least forty-three cupmarks, twenty-one cup-and-rings, three cup-and-three rings and one cup-and-four rings. Some of the cupmarks were joined by radial grooves. The largest motif on the boulder was one foot (.3m) in diameter (O'Connell 1939b, 131). A number of other hollows may have been of natural origin (Hussey 1909, 104)’.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 6 July 2017

References

Cooke, J. 1906 Antiquarian remains in the Beaufort district, County Kerry. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 26C, 1-14.

O'Connell, Capt. D.B. 1939 Notes: Three inscribed stones in Co. Kerry. Journal of the Cork Historical & Archaeological Society 44, 128-31.

Hussey, S.M. 1909 Gortbuee cup and circle stone. Kerry Archaeology Magazine 1, 103-5.