Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, on a S-facing slope, in the valley of the Sheen River. The rock art is evident on the N face of a large boulder which was moved during land reclamation in the 1990s. Eight cupmarks (diam. c. 5cm) and eight cup-and-rings (diam. c. 8cm), two of which have radial grooves, are visible on the upper half of the rock-face. There are two cupmarks and three cup-and-rings on the lower half of the rock-face. (Walsh 1997, 12)

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 improved pasture (104m OD), on a level area of ground, on an otherwise SE-facing slope; a small knoll is to SE. Excellent views of Feabunaun stream valley, Esk and Barraboy mountains to S; overlooked by Knockeirka hill to N. An ex-situ rock art site located at SE end of a farm trackway, on E-side; other large field clearance boulders align part of the trackway. Resting at an angle, whereby decorated surface faces slightly downwards, abutting two boulders to NW which may be obscuring other rock art motifs. A smooth and fractured sandstone boulder (dims. 1.80m N-S; 1.20m E-W; max. T 1.25m) having a rectangular decorated surface (dims. 1.20m N-S; 1.20m E-W) with a W-facing aspect. The decorated surface bears numerous weathered motifs including fourteen cup-and-ring motifs (overall diam. 8-11cm; ring Wth 1-1.5cm; D 3cm; cup diam. 4-7cm; D 6-12mm) defined by picked rings, concentrated along eastern side including two in SW corner. Twenty-one cupmarks (range diam. 2.5-6cm; D 3-5mm) are also concentrated along the E side including four in the SW corner. Some cup-and-ring motifs and cupmarks are inter-connected by lines of pickmarks. Numerous lines of pickmarks (Wth 1cm) that have been both lightly and heavily punched across central area of stone and in SW corner. A line of pickmarks (L 66cm N-S) on W side of decorated surface connect with other lines of pickmarks to E. A depressed square motif (dims. 9cm x 5cm) defined by pickmarks (D 4-5mm) is situated in SW corner. Two lines of pickmarks, intersecting at right angle, form an equilateral cross motif, although is not a typical cruciform. Large cupmark (diam. 7cm; D 15mm) with a short, wide radial groove (L 5cm; Wth 3.5cm; D 4mm) is to immediate N. According to Byrne et al (2009, 64), this boulder was moved during land reclamation works in the 1990s.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 7 July 2017