Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on the S side of the disused roadway, and commanding a view of Ballaghbeama Gap to NW, this boulder has a gently sloping upper surface which measures .97m x .74m in maximum dimensions. The decorative motifs, centrally positioned, comprise a cupmark, a cup-and-ring and five small pockmarks (information: A. Purcell).

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

Date of upload: 28 July 2013

On a level area of a low rise (H 168m), in rough mountain pasture; stream nearby to NW. Excellent views of Ballaghbeama Gap to NW and Kealduff River valley to S. A smooth and fractured, earthfast sandstone rock (dims. 0.90m N-S; 1.15m E-W; max. H 0.55m), which has a triangular decorated surface (dims. 0.75m N-S; 1.15m E-W) with a N-facing aspect. The rock art is very faint and is evenly distributed across the decorated surface, although the main motifs occupy a central area (dims. 0.11m N-S; 0.18m E-W) upon the surface. The main motifs consist of a cupmark (diam. 2.5cm; D 3mm) and a cup-and-one ring (diam. 10cm), which has a cupmark (diam. 2.5cm; D 4mm) and a picked ring groove (Wth 1cm; D 3mm). There are approximately twenty-six pickmarks of varying sizes (diam. 4, 7 and 10mm) etched across the decorated surface. There is a small area of vegetation and sod at ground level along N-side of the surface, which may obscure other decorated motifs. Rock art site (KE082-072----) is c. 8m to NE. Rock outcrop and boulders all around to SW->N->NE.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 8 March 2017