Rock scribing

The National Monuments Service's description

In rough hill pasture, on the SE-facing slope of Cummeenbaun Mountain. A large upright slab (c. 8m x c. 5m x c. 1m) leans against a large roughly cuboid-shaped boulder (L c. 12m E-W; Wth c. 4m N-S; H c. 3m) forming a shelter that can be entered from either the E or W sides. The relatively smooth vertical N face of the boulder is inscribed with clusters of straight lines, which extend from 0.3 to 2.2m above ground level and cover an area 5.8m x 1.9m. Most of the inscribed lines (L 0.04-0.15m) are vertical and are frequently grouped by horizontal or diagonal lines scored across them. The inscriptions are too numerous to count and appear to have been created with V-shaped tools to depths of 1-4mm. This is known locally as 'Pluais na Scríob' (the cave of the inscribing). (Grant 1999, 18-21; Shee Twohig 2004, 224-5)

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

References

Shee Twohig, E. 2004 An enduring tradition: incised rock art in Ireland. In H. Roche, E. Grogan, J. Bradley, J. Coles and B. Raftery (eds) From Megaliths to Metal. Essays in honour of George Eogan. Oxford. Oxbow Books, 222-9.

Grant W. 1999 Pluais na Scríob: unravelling Glenrastel's mysterious writing. In Tousist 6000. Tousist History and Newslatter Committee, Tousist, Co. Kerry.