Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

Graves recorded an ornamented 'rounded and water-worn' boulder which was built into a fence close to KE107-010---- (1877, 289). The fence has since been removed, and the stone now forms part of a clearance cairn. Its decorated surface is flat and measures 1.1m x .75m. It features a large, irregular cup-and-ring, c. .65m in maximum diameter, and a smaller cup-and-ring. Graves' illustration shows these motifs to have been joined by a groove that was flanked by four cupmarks. Because of a spall on the rock's surface these can no longer be identified.

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

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

In improved pasture (46m OD), on generally level valley floor, c. 30m to E of Staigue river and overlooked by low hills W->N->E. An ex-situ rock art boulder located on the E side of a large stone field clearance mound (H c. 3m). A smooth and fractured sandstone () having a rectangular decorated surface () which is currently E-facing. Motifs are weathered yet traceable and consist of a large cup-and-ring motif (overall dims. 65cm NE-SW x 49cm NW-SE; ring Wth 1-1.5cm; D 3cm; cup diam. 5cm; D 7mm). A smaller cup-and-ring motif (overall dims. 19cm x 16cm; ring Wth 1-1.5cm; D 2-3cm; cup dims. 2.5cm x 3.5cm; D 4mm) is located 2cm to N and a previously unrecorded cupmark (dims. 4cm x 3cm; D 6mm) is located 7cm to S.

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.