Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

In rough rocky hill pasture, on the lower S-facing slopes of Knockaunanattin Mountain with commanding views S along the valley of the Kealduff River. An earthfast boulder (2m N-S; 1.45m E-W; H 0.65m at the S end), which is covered by peat at its N end, features some rock art. Three cupmarks (diam. 4cm; D 1cm) are in a line close to the W edge of the boulder and are enclosed by an oval groove (0.21m N-S; 0.11m E-W). A cluster of four cupmarks occupies an area (0.2m N-S; 0.2m E-W) near the SE corner of the boulder. There is further rock art (KE084-073001-, KE082-073002-) c. 35m to the W.

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 rough, open pasture, on a S-facing slope (163m OD), overlooking Kealduff River valley to S. There is a drystone wall field boundary (long axis NNW-SSE) c. 2m to NE. A smooth and unfractured, sandstone rock (dims. 1.55m NNW-SSE; 1.1m ENE-WSW; max. H 0.6m) which is partially covered in peat at N-end and has loose boulders around the N margin. It has an irregular-shaped decorated surface (dims. 1.25m NNW-SSE; 1.1m ENE-WSW) and is lying flat, exposing the rock art to weathering. The motifs are concentrated to the E and W-sides of the rock surface and are poorly preserved. The motifs on the W-side cover a small area (dims. 40cm x 60cm) and consist of a triple cupmark (diams. 4-5cm) enclosed by a single ring (dims. 20cm x 10cm). A single cupmark (diam. 5cm) is located 4cm to SE. A possible cup-and-one ring motif (diam. 16cm) is 10cm to S of latter and has a cupmark (diam. 5cm) and very faint ring. Another cupmark (diam. 4cm) and semi-circular ring (diam. 14cm) is located 8cm to SW of aforementioned possible motif. A number of random pock/pick marks are around this area with a concentration to W of the triple cupmarks. The rock art on E-side covers a smaller area (dims. 40cm x 35cm) and consist of a large oval cupmark (dims. 7cm x 5cm); a second cupmark (diam. 5cm) is 12cm to ESE; a third cupmark (diam. 4cm) is 7cm to ESE of latter; a fourth, large oval cupmark (dims. 5cm x 6cm) enclosed by a triangular ‘ring’ (dims 19cm x 19cm) with rounded corners, is located 7cm to N of the large oval cupmark. A picked square area is located beside these cupmarks. There may be other subtle motifs obscured by heavy black mosses/blotches of lichen or under the peat to N. Rock art sites (KE082-073001-) and (KE082-073002-) are c. 16m to W. This area is strewn with numerous earthfast boulders and loose rocks of varying shapes and sizes. Deserted clachan c. 35m to E.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 9 March 2017