Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

This example of rock art is located close to an old field system, on the rock-strewn N side of the valley between Teermoyle and Coomacarrea mountains. The upper surface of the boulder, measuring 2.5m x 1.8m, features five poorly preserved cup-and-ring motifs, one with a radial groove extending from the cup to the ring, two with radial grooves extending from the rings, and two with gapped rings. There are also two single cupmarks.

See attached drawing of rock art taken from O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996, Fig. 62 (b)

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. 368. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

In mountain pasture (249m OD) with frequent rock outcrop and small boulders, on a steep S-facing slope of Teeromoyle mountain. A stream is adjacent to W and a field fence is c. 17m to N. A smooth and fractured boulder (dims. 1.97m NNE-SSW, 1.78m ESE-WNW, max. H 1.1m at E), which has a W-facing decorated surface (dims. 1.66m NE-SW, 0.89m NW-SE). The motifs are very weathered and obscured in places by lichen. Cup-and-ring motif (overall dims. 31cm x 26cm; ring Wth 2-cm; D 2-3mm; cup diam. 8cm; D 6mm) at N; Radial groove (dims. L 12cm; Wth 2cm; D 2mm) extends from cupmark at SW and terminates at ring. A cup-and-partial-ring (overall dims. 13cm x 10cm; ring Wth 2cm; D 3-4mm; cup diam. 4cm x 5cm; D 1-2mm) is 6cm to E. A cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 22cm; ring Wth 2cm; D 2-3mm; cup diam. 7cm; D 5mm) is located centrally upon decorated surface; A short radial groove extends from the ring at N. A cup-and-partial-ring (overall dims. 10cm x 8cm; ring Wth 1cm; D 2mm; cup diam. 8cm; D 7mm) is located 9cm to E. This ring is very faint and only present on NE side. A faint and weathered cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 22cm; ring Wth 1.5-2cm; D 1-2mm; cup diam. 7cm; D 4mm) is located upon SW area of decorated surface; Ring is open to S and there is a fracture encompassing the cupmark NNW->N>E. A single cupmark (diam. 4cm; D 2mm) is located c. 13cm to SSE. A cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 15cm; ring Wth 2cm; D 2mm; cup diam. 8cm; D 4mm) is situated upon SE area of decorated surface, which slopes gently to ESE; A linear groove (dims. L 14cm; Wth 2cm; D 2mm) extends from ring at NW.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 31 May 2017