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Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland

Rock art

Coomlettra, County Kerry, Ireland

Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1915) covering the location of Rock art, Coomlettra, County Kerry, with a pin at the register's coordinates
Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1915), covering this location. Courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. The pin is ours, placed from the register's coordinates.

The record

Townland
Coomlettra
County
Kerry
Country
Ireland
Latest-edition OS map
Not indicated
Coordinates
52.02499, -9.82738
SMR number
KE072-026----

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

4 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1790 map "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

Historical maps covering this location

  • 1790 · Composite: Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1841 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1869 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1891 · Ireland 16 (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 rough pasture, on a rocky SW-facing slope. An earthfast boulder (3.45m E-W; 2.2m N-S; H 0.35m), beside a stream, displays three weathered motifs on its level upper surface. Off-centre to S is a cup-and-three rings (diam. 0.28m) with a radial groove extending outwards through the rings. To the N of this is a cup-and-four rings (diam. c. 0.32m) with the faint trace of an arc of a possible fifth ring. Chipping of the surface may have removed the S half of the motif. There is a separate area of pock-marks towards the W end of the stone.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Kerry. Volume I: South-West Kerry' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 30 May 2011

In level area of rough pasture (156m OD), with abundant rock outcrop and earthfast boulders; good view across valley of mountain stream, to W. A smooth and fractured rock (dims. 2.21m N-S, 3.42m E-W, H 0.63m at S), which is very weathered. This boulder has a flat, roughly triangular decorated surface (dims. 1.00m NE-SW, 1.30m NW-SE) which is uneven. The motifs are clearly visible and consist of a pen-annular cup-and-three-ring motif (overall dims. 29cm; cup diam. 7cm; D 12mm; ring Wth 1.5cm; D 5mm) off-centre to N of the stone; A radial groove (dims. L 38cm; Wth 1.5cm; D 5mm) extends from cup at E and is linear (L 17cm) before extending into a smooth, natural fracture. A cup-and-four-ring motif (overall dims. 32cm E-W; 24cm N-S; cup diam. 6cm; D 10mm; ring Wth 1cm; D 4mm) is c. 37cm to S; Rings are present E->S->W and appear to be fractured off (possibly by freeze-thaw action) SW->N->E. A ledge (H 10cm) is adjacent to E. An area of pickmarks (dims. 43cm N-S; 30cm E-W) is located 0.69m to E and each pickmark (diam. 4mm; D 3mm) is well defined. A stream is c. 10m to SW and a stone wall enclosing two roofless buildings are c. 15m to SSE. Identified by Paddy O’Sullivan, Teagasc Agricultural Advisor (1998).

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 5 July 2017

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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