What is recorded here

Twenty-two cupmarks and rings are cut into a flat sandstone slab on the bog crest below Knocklomena, facing the Blackwater valley and Kenmare Bay. The marks avoid the rock’s fault lines, suggesting a steady hand working around its fractures rather than across them. A standing stone waits thirty metres away, as if the hilltop were a room with more than one chair.

This large, tabular section of rock outcrop is situated on the crest of a low hill in extensive bogland on the lower S slopes of Knocklomena mountain. The site affords a view along the Blackwater river valley to Kenmare Bay at S, and to the Beara Peninsula beyond. The rock stands 1.75m in maximum height and its decorated upper surface measures 4.2m x 2.1m. A number of fault lines cross its upper surface, but these are avoided by the motifs which comprise four cup-and-rings, one cup-and-two rings, fifteen simple cupmarks and three, short, straight grooves. Two of the latter run parallel to one another. 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. 293. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 28 July 2013 In mountain heath (191m OD), on a level area of ground, at base of low hillock, on a W-facing slope; Excellent views of Kealduff river valley to W and Knocklomena mountain to N. A smooth and fractured sandstone rock (dims. 2.12m N-S; 4.17m E-W; max. H 1.46m at W) having a flat, rectangular decorated surface (dims. 1.34m N-S; 2.79m E-W). A large sub-circular motif (overall dims. 40cm N-S; 33cm E-W; ring Wth 2cm; D 2-3mm; cup diam. 12cm; D 2mm) defined by a natural fracture (long-axis N-S) to E, is located centrally upon stone surface; A cluster of pickmarks is adjacent to W. A cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 12cm; ring Wth 2cm; D 3mm; cup diam. 7cm; D 8mm) is located to SW. A cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 10cm; ring Wth 1cm; D 2mm; cup diam. 5cm; D 5mm) is recorded at extreme E edge; A pair of cup-and-ring motifs (diam. 16cm; ring Wth 2cm; D 2-3mm; cup diam. 7cm; D 5mm) are close to W, having a cluster of pickmarks in and around them; Another cluster of pickmarks are close to ESE. A large oval motif (overall dims. 30cm N-S; 43cm E-W) containing three cupmarks (dims. small cupmark (diam. 4cm; D 4mm); medium cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 4mm); large cupmark (diam. 12cm; D 5mm) is located at W end of decorated surface. A cup-and-two-ring motif (overall diam. 23cm; ring Wth 1.5cm; D 2-3mm; cup diam. 8cm; D 2-3mm) and a cup-and-partial ring are adjacent to E. Ten cupmarks (range diam. 7-11cm; D 3-11mm) across decorated surface, with six across W half and four across E-half. A standing stone (KE083-081----) is c. 30m to SW. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 6 July 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, this rock art may have had ritual or territorial significance, possibly linked to landscape features such as the Blackwater river valley. No specific folklore is recorded, but its positioning suggests it could have been part of a wider ceremonial or navigational landscape.

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