Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

This site is located on the SW spur of Knag hill, overlooking Lough Currane to E and Ballinskelligs Bay to W. The weathered decoration occurs on two horizontal surfaces of a large section of rock outcrop, which falls almost vertically at W. The larger surface bears three cup-and-two rings, the outer rings in each case being gapped, one cup-and-ring, and four cupmarks, one with a radial groove. The second surface features two cup-and-rings, three cupmarks, and two linear grooves. One of the cup-and-rings has the arc of a second ring, which terminates at one end with a cupmark.
Finlay recorded another decorated surface 40m to the W of this which featured a cup-and-ring, partly enclosed in a Y-shaped figure formed by grooves, a cupmark with radial groove, and a short straight groove (1973, 61-2; Fig. 72). 5m to S was a lightly picked square. Neither of these surfaces can now be identified.

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

Date of upload: 28 July 2013

In rough mountain heath (78m OD) with areas of rock outcrop, on a W-facing slope; Excellent views of Ballinskelligs Bay to SW and Lough Currane to SE. A very rough and fractured sandstone outcrop (dims. 4.1m NE-SW; 2.40m NW-SE; max. H 0.90m at W) having a flat, rectangular decorated surface (dims. 1.20m N-S; 1.50m E-W) bearing very weathered motifs confined to NE area of stone. A cup-and-ring motif (overall dims. 29cm x 24cm; ring Wth 1-2.5cm; D 2-3cm; cup diam. 11cm; D 17mm) is at N margin of decorated surface. An obvious cupmark (diam. 6cm; D 7mm) is further to E and a very weathered cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 4mm) at W is very difficult to trace. A Y-shaped groove (Wth 2-3cm; D 3-4mm) is difficult to follow due to weathering: A curvilinear groove (overall L 112cm) defines the E portion (being very difficult to see due to weathering) and a stepped groove (overall dims. 80cm N-S; 20cm E-W) defines the W portion.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 7 July 2017

References

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 Unpublished MA thesis, University College, Cork.