What is recorded here

Thirty cups and angular lines are cut into slabs above the Anascaul valley, where a 1945 drawing claimed more circles than remain visible. The stones sit beside old cairns on Ballynahunt, exposing marks that may have recorded events, owned land or directed prayer beneath an open sky. Whatever they said, they said it where people could see the valley, the sea and the fields at once.

Three slabs (KE045-003----, KE045-003001- and KE045-003002-) bearing petroglyphs are located in close proximity to one another on the steep, lower, S facing slopes of Ballynahunt mountain, commanding a magnificent view over the Anascaul valley and through gaps in the coastal range as far as Dingle Bay and the Iveragh Peninsula. In the field immediately to N are a series of small cairns amongst which graves have apparently been uncovered (KE045-002----). Abutting the S side of a field fence is a prostrate slab (KE045-003----) measuring 1.5m x 1.2m. On its upper surface are at least 23 plain cup-marks ranging in diameter from .09 to .015m. In addition there are 3 cup-and-circles, 2 of which are now quite weathered, and near the NW edge is a cup-mark enclosed within a square, the E side formed by a natural fissure, the S by a slight ridge which may also be natural. Immediately E of this is a cup-mark with a slight tail, and towards the E side of the stone is a cup-mark with a longer radial groove. A linear groove delimits the S side of the decorated area, and a 2nd groove extends at right angles from this to almost meet the nearby cup-and-circle. W of this latter motif are 2 short linear grooves, but the series of grooves extending N-S along the W edge of the stone appear to be natural markings. A sketch by the Co. Kerry Field Club (1945, 630) shows circles enclosing most of the cup-marks, but, if these did once exist, there is now no surviving trace. A number of boulders, cleared from the field, have been piled up against the W side of the field fence 35m to S of KE045-003----. Amongst these is a slab (KE045-003001-) measuring 1.25m x 1m x c. 0.15m thick, which has 27 cup-marks on its exposed surface. Immediately N of KE045-003001- is a boulder (KE045-003002-), measuring 1.1m x 1.2m, which bears a single possible cup-mark. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage (compiler) 'Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey.' Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne (1986), no. 174. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 29 May 2013

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