Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

This boulder, split along a joint plane into two blocks, is located on the S slopes of Coomduff mountain. The upper surface of the SW block measures 1.95m x .83m, and inscribed on it is a large annular ring. Adjacent to this at S is a depression in the shape of a small foot (Hussey 1916b, 69), which appears to be natural. Else­where on this surface are a number of pockmarks. The location of the two blocks is locally known as 'Maum-an-Aifrinn' and they are reputed to be mass-rocks.

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

Date of upload: 13 August 2013

In mountain heath (199m OD), on a SSW-facing slope; Excellent views S->NW, including Cahersiveen and Valencia Harbour to W. A smooth and fractured sandstone (dims. 1.80m NW-SE, 0.94m NE-SW, max. H 0.60m) which appears to have been one large boulder that has split (D 0.74m) into two fairly equal sized boulders; The motifs are well-preserved and confined to the SW boulder. The decorated surface (dims. 1.80m NW-SE, 0.82m NE-SW) has a SW-facing aspect that is very even and smooth. A large, perfectly circular ring (diam. 81cm; ring Wth 2.5cm; D 5mm) occupies the N half of the decorated surface; Four small cupmarks have merged in the centre of the large ring and look like an irregular shaped cupmark (dims. 6cm x 7cm; D 2mm). A lot of pickmarks (diam. 8-10mm; D 3mm) to N and NE. A line of pickmarks (dims. L 75cm NE-SW) form a chord on SE side of circle, initially consisting of a complete groove (L 32cm) and the remaining line (L 43cm) is defined by intermittent pickmarks (diam. 8-10mm; D 3mm) and pockmarks (diam. 2-3cm; D 4-5mm). A naturally formed, perfectly linear, narrow strip of quartz (long-axis NE-SW; Wth 5mm) abuts the large ring to SW. There is a faint, naturally formed, shallow fissure (long axis NW-SE) that extends from the centre of large ring to SE edge of stone. The ‘child’s footprint’ (dims. L 10cm NW-SE; Wth 5cm NE-SW; D 20mm) referred to by O’Sullivan & Sheehan (1996, 106) is located 27cm to SE of the large ring and appears to be a solution mark. The letter ‘J’ is inscribed within the large ring, on the upslope side, at E. These rocks appear to have been reused as mass rocks known locally as ‘Maum-an-Aifrinn’ (O’Sullivan & Sheehan 1996, 106). Ruined church (KE080-016001-) clearly visible to SSW. A small drain (long axis N-S) is c. 4m to W and a farm trackway is c. 50m to SW.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 5 July 2017