Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

This weathered carving is located on the W facing side of a hogbacked boulder, 2.9m x 2.6m x 2.1m high. Most of the motifs occur on the S side of a long curving groove and comprise seventeen simple cupmarks, a number of meandering grooves of varying lengths and fourteen cup-and-rings. The cupmarks of two of the latter are joined by a curving groove. On a lower level of the rock, N of the dividing groove, are two simple cupmarks and a badly weathered cup-and-ring. At its NW corner a long pocked groove outlines the edge of the rock (Anati 1963, 4, No.3; Finlay 1973, 75).

See attached drawing of rock art taken from O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996, Fig. 57

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. 307. 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 pasture, on a SE-facing slope (216m OD). Land rises up steeply to NW from this point. Overlooked by rugged mountain landscape to SW. Extensive views of Kealduff river valley and over to Lough Brin to ENE. Smooth and fractured, substantial sandstone rock outcrop (dims. 2.9m N-S; 2.6m E-W; H 1.5m) with a sub-rectangular decorated surface (dims. 2.25m N-S; 1.3m E-W) having an W-facing aspect. The rock art is visible although covered by lichens and most of motifs are to S of a radial groove and to W of a natural rock fissure: Nineteen single cupmarks (diam. c. 5.5cm; D 3-4mm) concentrated across the central area of rock face including two outlying to N and one to SE; nine cup-and-one ring (total diam. c. 12cm) across centre of rock face with one outlying to SE, each having a cupmark (diam. 4-5cm; D 4mm) and ring (D 3-4mm); seven cupmarks and partial ring motifs (total diam. 10cm; D 3mm), some with radial grooves. Radial groove to W of decorated area and a line of distinct pick marks, to SW.

To see a 3D model of this stone visit: https://skfb.ly/6yKAx

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 8 March 2017

References

Finlay, F. 1973 The rock art of Cork and Kerry. Unpublished MA thesis, University College, Cork.

O'Sullivan, A. and Sheehan, J. 1996 The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry. Cork University press.

Anati, E.G. 1963 New petroglyphs at Derrynablaha, County Kerry, Ireland. Journal of the Cork Historical & Archaeological Society, Vol. 68, 1-15.