What is recorded here

Two weathered stones on the SE slopes of Knocknakilton carry cup marks and circles cut into rock that overlooks the Emlagh river valley. One slab still leans against a field fence, its surface pitted and worn, while the smaller stone was taken from a fence and is now held by Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne. Someone struck or ground those marks long enough for them to survive rain, grass and forgetting. The valley may have watched herds, storms or passing people, but the stones remain steady markers of a hand that reached into rock and made it remember.

Two stones were found in close proximity to one another on the SE slopes of Knocknakilton, overlooking the Emlagh river valley. The smaller stone (KE045-032----) has been removed from the field fence into which it was incorporated and is now in the possession of Oidhreacht Chorea Dhuibhne [KE042-172----]. This measures 1.2m x .8m x .07m to .15m thick. The markings are dominated by a large cup-and-3 circles with a radial line running from the central cup through a gap in the inner circle and across the outer circles. A diametrically opposed radial line is formed by a natural fissure. A possible cup-mark, badly eroded, lies between the 2 outer circles. The remainder of the motifs comprise at least 6 cup-marks, one now partially broken away, and a cup-and-circle which, though gapped, may once have been complete as the surface of the stone is spalled where the gap occurs. The larger slab (KE045-032001-) lies against the SE side of a field fence and measures 2.25m x .5m to .95m x c. 0.3m thick. The surface is very weathered and some of the cupmark-like depressions may be natural. However, there appear to be at least 10 definite cup-marks and 2 cup-and-circles. One of the cup-and-circles has a radial line and an elongated spall has broken away from the edge of the other removing a cup-mark noted there by Finlay (1973, 29-30). The above description is derived from J. Cuppage (compiler) 'Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey.' Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne (1986), no. 189. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 18 March 2016 In improved pasture (149m OD), at junction of four field boundaries, on an ESE-facing slope. This represents the original location (KE045-032----) of one of two stones, found in close proximity to each another, on the SE slopes of Knocknakilton, overlooking the Emlagh river valley. According to Cuppage (1986, 64, Fig. 42c), this rock art example (KE045-032----) is the smaller of the two stones, ‘which has been removed from the field fence into which it was incorporated’ and the rock art stone’s present location (KE042-172----), is now in the Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne. This measures 1.2m x .8m x .07m to .15m thick. The markings are dominated by a large cup-and-3 circles with a radial line running from the central cup through a gap in the inner circle and across the outer circles. A diametrically opposed radial line is formed by a natural fissure. A possible cup-mark, badly eroded, lies between the 2 outer circles. The remainder of the motifs comprise at least 6 cup-marks, one now partially broken away, and a cup-and-circle which, though gapped, may once have been complete as the surface of the stone is spalled where the gap occurs’. A second example of rock art (KE045-032001-) recorded at this location, remains in-situ. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 6 July 2017

The rock art in An Luachair is likely from the Late Neolithic or Bronze Age, based on the style and context of similar Irish rock art. Its meaning is unclear, but such sites may have had ritual, territorial, or astronomical significance.

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.