Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Rock art
Letter West, County Kerry, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Letter West
- County
- Kerry
- Country
- Ireland
- Coordinates
- 52.01437, -10.01128
- SMR number
- KE071-123----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1753 "Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
In upland heath, on a gentle NE-facing slope (168m OD); lots of rock outcrop exposed across area and stream close to SE. Overlooked by mountains SE->W->NE and overlooking Behy River valley to NE. A smooth and fractured, sandstone rock outcrop (dims. 1.10m N-S; 2.60m E-W; 0.15m (max. H)) that has a generally flat, rectangular decorated surface (dims. 0.70m NW-SE; 0.40m NE-SW). The rock art is very weathered and there is clear evidence of freeze/thaw action. A line of pickmarks (L 70cm NE-SW; Wth 2cm; D 4mm) is located off-centre to N; freeze/thaw is evident at NE-end where part of this motif has flaked away. A cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 9mm) is located 1.5cm to N and a second cupmark (diam. 4cm; D 7mm) is located c. 18cm to S of this line. The second cupmark is very rough and may have weathered more than its original depth. A small linear groove (L 5cm NW-SE; Wth 1.5cm; D 3mm) is 3.5cm to WSW of northern cupmark. A small cluster of pickmarks is located to SE of the main pickmark line. Two irregular-shaped, weathered depressions to N and S of the pickmark line.
Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly
Date of upload: 27 March 2017
Nearby in the register
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.