Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

This rectangular boulder is located at the side of a small stream and measures 1.25m x .5m x .35m high. Its decorated upper surface features a cup-and-two rings, a very weathered cup-and-ring, a D-shaped area of light pocking and a natural solution pit.

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

Date of upload: 28 July 2013

In upland heath and blanket bog, on a NE-facing slope (223m OD), c. 2m to SE of deeply incised gorge of small mountain stream (long axis NE-SW). A slightly rough and fractured, sandstone rock (dims. 1.28m N-S; 0.52m E-W; max. H 0.53m), which has a flat, sub-rectangular decorated surface (dims. 0.70m N-S; 0.40m E-W). The motifs are well-defined and consist of one cupmark (dims. 4.5m N-S; 3.5m E-W; D 3mm) located in SW area; the W-side of the cupmark appears naturaly formed and the E-side man-made, so it is possibly a natural depression reused as a cupmark. There is one cup-and-one ring motif (diam. 8.5cm) having a cupmark (diam. 4.5cm; D 15mm) and ring (Wth 8mm; D 2-3m). One cup-and-two ring motif (dims. 22cm N-S; 23cm E-W) having a cupmark (diam. 6cm; D 13mm) and ring (Wth 2-3cm; D 6-7mm); A radial groove (long-axis N-S) extends from cupmark to SE and continues as a line of pickmarks (L 11cm; Wth 1cm; D 3-4mm) which extends to SE from outer ring; Possible natural fracture (L 24cm; D 9-13mm) at a tangent to and incorporated into outer ring on N-side, appears to have been enhanced to form a step (long-axis E-W). Circular area of pickmarks (dims. 0.20m N-S; 0.18m E-W; D 3mm) to NE area and deep, natural depression at N-end of decorated surface. Rock art site (KE071-055----) is located 0.70m to E.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 3 March 2017