Rock art in Dromtine

This weathered, earthfast boulder, 3.45m x 1.65m and .45m high, is located NNE of Dromtine Lough on the S side of a low rise which is surmounted by a caher and a standing stone (KE090-012001-). Close to the N edge of the boulder is a large, circular, pocked area from which three short grooves stem; one groove becomes a radial line for a cup-and-three penannular rings, while another joins the outermost of four rings which enclose a loosely pocked area. The third groove meanders for a short distance. Close to the S edge of the boulder an L-shaped area is defined by a long groove. It features three interlinked motifs, that at E being a broad, shallow cupmark enclosed within four concentric rings. A short groove extends from the outer ring to an external cupmark, and a long curving groove extends from the innermost ring to a broad circular pocked area. The latter is joined by a radial groove to the innermost of two concentric rings enclosing four pock-marks. The remaining motifs on the boulder consist of a cup-and-two circles, two cup-and-circles and nine simple cupmarks. One of the latter features a slightly curved radial line, while one of the cup-and-circles has a radial line. 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. 323. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 28 July 2013 In rough pasture (93m OD), on a SW-facing slope, overlooking Dromtine Lough to SW. A smooth and fractured sandstone boulder (dims.3.24m N-S; 1.70m E-W; max. H 0.65m at SE) with a subrectangular decorated surface (dims. 2.33m N-S; 1.47m E-W), having a S-facing aspect. There is a small, naturally formed step at ground level, at SE-end of boulder. A concentric three-ring motif (overall diam. 30cm; ring Wth 1.5cm; D 5mm) is located upon SE area of decorated surface. It has approximately seven cupmarks (diam. 1-2cm; D 2-3mm) within central area (diam. 14cm). According to O’Sullivan & Sheehan (1996, 88; Fig. 52a), this motif is depicted as having four rings, but only three were noted during current field inspection. An annular cup-and-three-ring motif (overall diam. 21cm; ring Wth 1.5cm; D 4mm; cup diam. 9cm; D 8mm) is located to W; It has a radial groove (L 9cm; Wth 1.5cm; D 4mm) extending from cupmark at NE. A depressed circular motif (overall dims. 18cm N-S; 22cm E-W; D 17mm) is located to N and is connected to the two aforementioned motifs by two separate linear grooves at SE and SW. A third, longer linear groove extends to ESE. A ring motif (overall diam. 13cm; ring Wth 5cm; D 5mm) having a raised central area (diam. 4cm), is located 16cm to N of the depressed circular motif. Two cupmarks joined by a groove (L 17cm) are located to E of ring motif; The smaller cupmark (diam. 4.5cm; D 4mm) to N was depicted by O’Sullivan & Sheehan (1996, 88; Fig. 52), however the larger cupmark (diam. 6cm; D 6mm) to S was not depicted. Eight single cupmarks (diam. 4-5cm; D 4-6mm) are located upon the decorated surface to SW, W and N. The NW area of the stone bears a large L-shaped groove (dims. 1.12m N-S; 0.65m E-W; Wth 2cm; D 6mm) and encloses a two-ring motif, a depressed circle, a cup-and-four-ring motif and two cupmarks. The concentric two-ring motif (overall diam. 19.5cm; ring Wth 2cm; D 3mm) has approximately four small cupmarks occupying a central area (diam. 10cm; D 5mm), which are largely obscured by weathering and lichen cover. The two-ring motif is joined to a depressed circle (diam. 20cm; D 3mm) by a short groove at N; This circle appears to be formed by weathered pickmarks. The depressed circle is in turn joined at NE, to a cup-and-four-ring motif (overall dims. 33cm N-S; 30cm E-W; ring Wth 2cm; D 5mm; cup dims. 14cm x 13cm; D 9mm) via a curvilinear groove which is connected to the inner ring. A cupmark (diam. 6cm; D 4mm) is connected to the cup-and-four-ring motif by a short linear groove (L 5cm) to SW. A very weathered cup-and-two-ring motif (overall diam. 22cm; ring Wth 1-2.5cm; D 4mm; cup diam. 5cm; D 4mm) is located to S of the L-shaped groove. A cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 5mm) is to immediate SE of this motif. A cup-and-partial-ring motif (overall diam. 10cm; ring Wth 1.5cm; D 14mm; cup diam. 7cm; D 11mm) is located to SW of latter; A radial groove (L 8cm; Wth 1.5cm; D 4mm) extends from cupmark at SSW. A trackway is located 9m to SW. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 6 July 2017

This rock art is likely from the Neolithic or Bronze Age period, based on its association with a caher and standing stone. The symbols may have had ritual or territorial significance, possibly linked to early farming communities or local folklore.