Rock art in Kealduff Upper

This regular section of outcrop features a decorated upper surface, 2.55m x 2.3m, which slopes upwards to S. Its rather grainy but smooth surface carries a number of very faint motifs, including at least twenty-five simple cup-marks, two with traces of enclosing rings, three large sub-circular and ovoid frames formed by grooves with runner cupmarks, and short stretches of straight and curved grooves. See attached drawing of rock art taken from O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996, Fig. 63 (c) 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. 336. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. In rough pasture (147m OD) with abundant boulders and rock outcrop, on an E-facing slope; Good views of River Behy valley NE->E and Beenreagh, Macklaun, Knocknaman, Coomreagh and Drung Hill mountains SE->NW. Rock art (KE071-089----) is c. 3m to N. A smooth and fractured sandstone rock (dims. dims. 2.7m N-S; 2.5m E-W; 1.2m) having a subrectangular decorated surface (dims. 1.6m N-S, 1.4m E-W) with a steep N-facing slope. There are twenty-eight cupmarks (range diam. 3-6cm; D 3-5mm) across the decorated surface, three of which have radial grooves (dims. L 2cm; L 5cm; L 13cm). An additional two, large cupmarks (diam. 13cm; D 3mm) are situated to the E and W side of the decorated surface. Two partial cup-and-ring motifs (overall diam. 14cm; cup diam. 5-6cm; D 4-6mm; ring Wth 1.5-2cm; D 3-4mm) are situated to SE of each of the large cupmarks; One of these motifs is located on edge of a natural fracture and only half of ring is present. A large oval ring (dims. 80cm N-S; 42 cm E-W; ring Wth 1-1.5cm; D 3mm) is oblong in shape and is gapped in places; A previously mentioned partial cup-and-ring motif is incorporated into the S end of this motif and a cupmark is incorporated into the ring at NW. One of the large cupmarks mentioned above and a small cupmark (diam. 4cm) are within the interior. A smaller oval ring (dims. 46cm N-S; 38cm E-W; ring Wth 1cm; D 3mm) is located at the northern edge of the decorated surface, having two cupmarks incorporated into the ring and one cupmark within the interior. A previously unrecorded linear groove (L 23cm) within the interior, extends from ring, into centre of the enclosed space. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 5 July 2017