Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

In small field of improved pasture (42m OD), enclosed by a drystone wall and also containing children’s burial ground (KE106-116----); Excellent views of Ballinskelligs Bay to W. A smooth and fractured, narrow upright sandstone (dims. 1.02m ESE-WNW; H 0.91m; T 0.14m) which is rectangular in elevation. It has a subrectangular decorated surface (dims. 0.50m ESE-WNW; H 0.40m) which occupies the W sector of the NNE-facing elevation, close to ground level. The decorative elements are partially obscured by lichen. The motifs consist of four cupmarks, one of which has a radial groove. The largest cupmark (diam. 10cm; D 22mm) is located roughly in the centre of decorated surface. A second cupmark (dims. 8cm x 7cm; D 12mm) is located c. 1.5cm above the large cupmark; a radial groove (L 8cm, Wth 2.5cm; D 3mm) extends from cupmark to W edge of stone. A third cupmark (diam. 4.5cm; D 8mm) is located c. 4cm above the latter and is close to W edge of stone, where there is a natural fracture. A fourth cupmark (diam. 4cm; D 4mm) is located below the others, toward ground level. This upright stone appears to be mentioned by O’Sullivan and Sheehan (1996, 325) in the entry (No. 980) for the children’s burial ground (KE106-116----). The dimensions for the stone are similar but it does not mention any rock art. Initially identified as rock art by Aoibheann Lambe (2016).

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 26 January 2018