Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

Located c. 100m E of the Staigue river, close to Staigue bridge, this large section of rock outcrop, 13m x 10m, was stripped of three to four feet (c. 1m) of peat in the 1830s (Graves 1877, 284—5). The weathered surface slopes upwards to SE, but most of the decoration occurs on the fairly level S end of the rock, within an area measuring 2.5m x 2m. Flanking both sides of a complex of cup-and-ring motifs and linear grooves in this area are two large rings with an average diameter of .45m; one features a central cupmark while the other encloses four. Most of the remaining ornament is enclosed within a network of grooves and consists of thirteen cup-and-rings, two cup-and-two rings and twenty-two cupmarks. Some of the cupmarks punctuate the ends of grooves. A number of the cup-and-rings feature radial grooves, a few of them terminating in cupmarks. The decoration continues intermittently to N, down the rock's surface, and consists of long curving grooves and cup-and-rings.

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

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

In mountain heath (55m OD), at an interface between a level area of ground and a N-facing slope. Located on E side of Staigue River valley and surrounded by low hills W->N->SE. A large, L-shaped expanse of smooth and fractured sandstone rock outcrop (dims. 14m N-S; 2.75m E-W; max. H 0.20m) which has deep, natural fissures (long-axis E-W) which have been further weathered. A previous survey recorded numerous motifs across a rectangular decorated surface (dims. 5.70m NNW-SSE; 2.00m ENE-WSW) at S end of this L-shaped rock expanse (O’Sullivan & Sheehan 1996, Fig. 68 (c), 104). These include a large ring motif (overall dims. 44cm x 43cm; ring Wth 1.5-2cm; D 3cm) enclosing four cupmarks (diam. 4-7.5cm; D 2-13mm) at W end and a large cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 46cm; ring Wth 1.5cm; D 3cm) enclosing a relatively small central cup (diam. 6cm; D 13mm), at E end of decorated surface. A complete cup-and-two-ring motif (overall dims. 27cm x 25cm; ring Wth 1.5-2.5cm; D 4-6cm; cup diam. 4.5cm; D 15mm) is located at S end, with a second example adjacent. Seventeen cup-and-ring motifs (overall diam. 12-24cm; ring Wth 1.5-2.5cm; D 3-4cm; cup diam. 4-5cm; D 9-10mm) are located across this decorated surface. Twenty-three cupmarks (range diam. 4-5cm; D 8-9mm), some of which are intersected by and are at the terminus of linear grooves (Wth 1.5cm; D 3-4mm), are distributed across this decorated surface. A large circular depression (dims. 10cm x 11cm; D 6mm) is situated toward the NW-edge. This decorated surface continues northwards, toward the centre of the rock expanse, as mentioned (although not depicted) by O’Sullivan & Sheehan (ibid). These decorative elements comprise of three cup-and-ring motifs, three cupmarks and various linear grooves. The motifs at the northern end, toward the ‘toe’ of this L-shaped rock expanse, have not previously been recorded and may have been exposed since earlier surveys. These consist of eight cup-and-ring motifs (overall diam. 12-18cm; ring Wth 1-2cm; D 4cm; cup diam. 3-4.5cm; D 8-11mm) including a cup-and-ring motif at the extreme N end, which has a radial groove extending from the ring at E. There are two cupmarks upon this decorated surface.

See attached screenshot of 3D model of the rock art panel created by The Discovery Programme. 3D model can be accessed at the following website: https://skfb.ly/YTyI

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 7 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.