Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

Nineteen examples of rock art have been revealed through a combination of erosion and peat-cutting approximately 1 km NE of Coomaglaslaw Lake, on the lower E slopes of Mullaghnarakill mountain. Seventeen examples are clustered close together on either side of a track that continues from the end of a tarred road. The other two examples (KE071-054---- & KE071-055----) occur upslope, midway to Coomaglaslaw Lake. The dominant view from both locations is along the course of the Behy river, and Castlemaine Harbour can be seen at NE. Dingle Bay can be glimpsed between the mountains to N. Two examples of rock art occur in the adjoining townland of Letter West (KE071-001---- & KE071-002----), while c. 1km to SE is the Coomasaharn rock art complex.
This partly exposed section of level rock outcrop measures 3.4m x 3m and is decorated at its N end. At the NW edge is a cup-and-five gapped rings with a radial groove extending well beyond the outer ring. Two cup-and-five rings, with radial lines extending from the cups to the outer rings, occur side by side to NE of this. Elsewhere there are three cup-and-four and three cup-and-three rings, some with radial grooves and one with a gapped outer ring. The remaining motifs consist of two simple cupmarks and two cup-and-rings, one with traces of a second ring.

See attached drawing of rock art taken from O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996, Fig. 63

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

In rough pasture (138m OD), overgrown with scrub, to E of tertiary road (long-axis N-S), on a gentle E-facing slope, which is overlooking landscape of River Behy valley to NE. Not located. According to O’Sullivan & Sheehan (1996, 98; Fig. 63a), ‘This partly exposed section of level rock outcrop measures 3.4m x 3m and is decorated at its N end. At the NW edge is a cup-and-five gapped rings with a radial groove extending well beyond the outer ring. Two cup-and-five rings, with radial lines extending from the cups to the outer rings, occur side by side to NE of this. Elsewhere there are three cup-and-four and three cup-and-three rings, some with radial grooves and one with a gapped outer ring. The remaining motifs consist of two simple cupmarks and two cup-and-rings, one with traces of a second ring.’

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 5 July 2017