Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

This stone is located S of KE091-048---- and is incorporated into an E–W field fence. Both of its opposing flat faces are decorated. The more heavily decorated S face, 1.7m x .8m, features a grid-pattern formed of grooves and a natural fissure, into which various cup-and-ring and cupmark motifs are incorporated. At least eighteen individual cupmarks occur on the grooves, and in the spaces enclosed by the grid. The cup-and-ring motifs cluster towards one end of the decorated face, and include eight cup-and-rings with radial lines and one cup-and-four rings with a radial line. Adjacent to the latter motif is a circular pocked area. The N side of the stone features two cup-and-rings with radial lines (Graves 1877, 288; Finlay 1973, 67–8).

See attached drawing of rock art taken from O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996, Fig. 68 (a & b)

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

In rough pasture (94m OD), on an E-facing slope, overlooking Ardsheelhane River valley N->E->S; views obscured by trees. Small stream is c. 5m to S. Set into drystone wall (H 1.1m; long-axis E-W) and encompassed by holly tree growing on N side of field boundary. Slightly rough and fractured, substantial boulder (dims. 1.42m N-S; 1.29m E-W; T 0.71m) with a rectangular decorated surface upon the S and NNE-facing aspects. The S-facing surface (dims. 1.42m N-S; 1.29m E-W; 0.71m) is highly decorated and includes a cup-and-four-ring motif (overall diam. 24cm; ring Wth 1cm; D 3mm; cup diam. 6cm; D 21mm) which is very weathered and worn around the northern arc; A radial groove (L 13cm; Wth 1cm) extends from the cupmark at SE. A cup-and-two-ring motif (overall dims. 13cm; ring Wth 1-2cm; D 3mm; cup diam. 6cm; D 18mm) and a deep cupmark (diam. 6cm; D 19mm) are located to NE. The cup-and-two ring is depicted as a cup-and-one ring motif by O’Sullivan & Sheehan (1996, 104; Fig. 68a). A radial groove (L 5.5cm; Wth 1cm) extends from the cupmark at SE. A cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 11cm; ring Wth 1cm; D 3mm; cup diam. 7cm; D 15mm) is located to S; A short radial groove (L 4cm; Wth 1cm; D 3mm) extends from cupmark at SE. A large cupmark (diam. 12cm; D 17cm) adjacent to W, has possibly deepened due to weathering. Other cup-and-ring motifs (average overall Wth 12cm; ring Wth 2cm; D 5mm; cup diam. 5cm; D 10mm) are arranged around the cup-and-four-ring motif. A partial cup-and-ring element having a very weathered ring is located at N end of decorated surface. A number of cupmarks (average diam. 4-5cm; D 4-6mm) are to N of a natural fracture (long-axis NE-SW) across decorated surface. A complex network of linear grooves (average Wth 1.5-2cm; D 4mm) cover this decorated surface, in and around the other motifs. In contrast, the NNE-facing decorated surface is relatively simple and consist of a large penannular cup-and-ring motif (overall dims. 13cm; ring Wth 1-3cm; D 5mm; cupmark diam. 5cm; D 10mm) which is weathered across the S arc; A radial groove (L 6cm; Wth 1cm; D 4mm) extends from the cupmark at S. A small cup-and-ring motif (overall dims. 8cm; ring Wth 1cm; D 4mm; cupmark diam. 4cm; D 4mm) to SE, has a radial groove (L 3cm; Wth 1cm; D 3mm) extending to N. The top of the stone is flat (dims. 0.25m N-S; 0.60cm E-W) and bears no obvious motifs.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 6 July 2017

References

Graves, J. 1876-8 On cup and circle sculptures as occurring in Ireland. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 14, 283-96.

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