Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on the SW spur of Mullaghnarakill mountain, in an area of dense rock outcrop, is an leac sgribhneoiread (Lynch 1906a, 283), a flat-topped rock measuring .75m high. The site commands extensive views to W along the Ferta river valley. The former practice of lighting bonfires on the stone has resulted in the scaling of its decorated surface, particularly on the SW side. At the S edge of the stone is a two-armed cruciform motif, whose head and arms terminate in circles.
The adjacent ‘spiral’ noted by Macalister (1939b, 21), is, in fact, a cup-and-two rings with a radial groove extending from the outer ring. A fissure partially obscures this motif. The ‘labyrinth pattern’ (Macalister, ibid.) consists of a cup-and-three angular rings with two grooves interrupting the outer two rings. The remaining motifs consist of various curving grooves, simple cupmarks and cupmarks enclosed by one to two rings.

See attached line drawing of rock art taken from O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996 Fig. 45.

To see a 3D model of this monument visit: https://skfb.ly/DJzH

The above description is derived from O'Sullivan, A. J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 265. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 28 July 2013

In mountain heath (166m OD), on a SW-facing slope of Been Hill/Mullaghnarakill mountain; Excellent views of River Ferta valley and sea to WSW. A smooth and fractured table-top boulder (dims. 1.45m N-S; 2.90m E-W; max. H 0.64m), which has a flat, sub-oval decorated surface (dims. 1.45m N-S; 2.90m E-W). The motifs are very weathered and are obscured in places by a thick, green lichen. A squared cup-and-three-ring motif (overall dims. 33cm E-W; 32cm N-S; ring Wth 1.5-2.5cm; D 2mm; cup diam. 5cm; D 4mm) is located upon the NE area of the rock surface; inner ring is very broad (Wth 2.5cm), being open to E and outer rings are faint. This motif appears to be the ‘labyrinth pattern’ described by Macalister (1939). Numerous cupmarks (diam. 3-5cm; D 2-3mm) are concentrated around this squared motif and to W of it. Further to W, along the northern area of the decorated surface, are two cup-and-ring motifs, a partial cup-and-ring element and a partial cup-and-two-ring motif. A cruciform motif is located at the W-edge of the stone surface. It has a central, linear shaft (long-axis 45cm E-W; Wth 2cm; D 6mm) which extends from edge of stone at W and terminates in a ring (diam. 7cm) at its E-end. Two perpendicular, parallel cross-shafts (short line 23cm N-S; long line 40cm N-S) form the arms of the cruciform pattern and also terminate in a ring at either end. Two cupmarks are in the close vicinity to E. A cup-and-two-ring motif (overall diam. 26cm; ring Wth 1-1.5cm; D 2mm; cup diam. 6cm; D 8mm) is located at SE edge of decorated surface. The outer ring is very faint and a radial groove (Wth 1cm; D 2mm) extends from W side of cupmark. A cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 13cm; ring Wth 1cm; D 2mm; cup diam. 4cm; D 5mm) abuts to W. Other motifs in the vicinity to S, W and N are very faint and partially obscured by lichen. A large depressed circle (diam. 14cm) has been hollowed out at S edge of stone surface. A circular and an oval cupmark are adjacent to E.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 31 May 2017

References

Macalister, R.A.S. 1939 Recent epigraphic discoveries in Co. Kerry. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 45C, 13-20.