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Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland

Rock art

Kealduff Upper, County Kerry, Ireland

The record

Townland
Kealduff Upper
County
Kerry
Country
Ireland
Coordinates
52.01175, -10.01035
SMR number
KE071-165----

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David 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).

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This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗

The National Monuments Service's description

In mountain heath and blanket bog (179m OD), at SE edge of rock scatter, in a slight localised depression of an otherwise NE-facing slope. Excellent views of Behy river valley to NE with Seefin and Droum Mountains in background. An unfractured boulder (dims. 2.2m N-S; 4.65m E-W; H 0.8m at NNE) bearing two decorated surfaces: A smooth E-facing aspect and a slightly rough W-facing aspect, which are both subrectangular in plan. The W-facing aspect has a roughly oval-shaped decorated surface (dims. 1.45m N-S; 0.9m E-W) bearing a number of faint decorative elements. The motifs consist of eight cupmarks (diam. 4cm; D 4mm), of similar size and form: three of which are near the N edge, four of which are in the centre and one isolated example near the S edge. Substantial oval ring (total dims. 0.81m E-W; 0.9m N-S) defined by a groove (Wth 1cm; D 2-3mm) NE->S->NW; open to N, where it is defined by natural fractures; encloses four of the eight cupmarks. The decorated surface (dims. 0.55m N-S; 0.8m E-W) upon the E-facing aspect bears a large heptagonal motif (total dims. 48cm N-S; 36cm E-W) enclosing a smaller hexagonal element (total dims. 20cm N-S; 17cm E-W) which has a central cupmark (diam. 2.5cm; D 2mm). An isolated cupmark (diam. 3cm; D 2mm) is adjacent to NE. Motifs upon this aspect are clearer and better defined and similar to hexagonal motif upon rock art site (KE071-164----); not considered to be typical rock art. Very poorly drained surface around base of this rock art site, which is covered by sphagnum moss.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 25 January 2018

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Sites and Monuments Record data: National Monuments Service, Government of Ireland, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Record text is reproduced unchanged. National Monuments Service, Government of Ireland · CC BY 4.0
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