Rock art in Letter West

In rough hill pasture, on a bog interspersed with stones and boulders. A roughly rectangular earthfast stone (4.4m NE-SW; 2.6m NW-SE; H 0.7m) displays weathered motifs inscribed on the SW half of its upper surface. The motifs consist of a cup-and-three rings (diam. 42cm) conjoined with a cup-and-two rings (diam. 25cm). They are also linked by a U-shaped groove (Wth 1cm), the terminals of which extend outwards to NE from each cupmark, through the rings. A cup-and-ring (diam. 17cm) abuts the curve of this groove externally. A thick gorse-covered layer of bog covers the NE half of the stone. An area of pock-marks and the arcs of two parallel rings (L 25cm and 18cm, respectively) are visible under the eroding SW face of the bog layer. In rough hill pasture, on a bog interspersed with stones and boulders. A roughly rectangular earthfast stone (4.4m NE-SW; 2.6m NW-SE; H 0.7m) displays weathered motifs inscribed on the SW half of its upper surface. The motifs consist of a cup-and-three rings (diam. 42cm) conjoined with a cup-and-two rings (diam. 25cm). They are also linked by a U-shaped groove (Wth 1cm), the terminals of which extend outwards to NE from each cupmark, through the rings. A cup-and-ring (diam. 17cm) abuts the curve of this groove externally. A thick gorse-covered layer of bog covers the NE half of the stone. An area of pock-marks and the arcs of two parallel rings (L 25cm and 18cm, respectively) are visible under the eroding SW face of the bog layer. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Kerry. Volume I: South-West Kerry' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 May 2011 On level area of rough mountain pasture, scattered with frequent rock outcrop and boulders, on a NE-facing slope (218m OD). Watercourse (draining from Coomnacronia Lake), is located to N and excellent views of Behy River valley to NE. A slightly rough and fractured, sandstone rock outcrop (dims. 2.50m NNE-SSW; 3.80m ESE-WNW; max. H 0.60m), which has a triangular-shaped decorated surface (dims. dims. 1.50m NNE-SSW; 1.40m ESE-WNW) confined to the W-half of the S-facing aspect. The decorated area is divided by a natural fracture (long axis N-S; H 0.2m). The rock art is very weathered yet traceable, consisting of very elaborate and complex motifs. The area to W of the natural fracture bears a cup-and-three-ring motif (diam. 46cm) having a cupmark (diam. 11cm; D 4mm) and ring (Wth 1.5-2cm; D 3mm). This is conjoined with a cup-and-two-ring motif (diam. 23cm) having a cupmark (diam. 6cm; D 6mm) and a ring (Wth 1.5cm; D 3mm). The cup-and-three-ring motif has four small cupmarks (diam. 2cm; D 4mm), two within inner ring and two between inner ring and intermediate ring. These small cupmarks are located two on either side of a radial groove that extends from SE-side of central cupmark of cup-and-three-ring motif. This long groove travels in a SE direction to a cup-and-ring and continues to another cup-and-ring further S, where it terminates at the cupmark. The cup-and-two-ring motif (mentioned above) also has four small cupmarks (diam. 2cm; D 4mm), two within the inner ring and two between inner ring and outer ring. These small cupmarks are located two on either side of a radial groove that extends from SE-side of the central cupmark This groove appears to connect with the outer ring of the cup-and-three-ring and also intersects with radial groove of cup-and-three-ring motif. A natural fracture (long axis NE-SW) appears to be incorporated into this conjoined motif. The three cup-and-ring motifs (diam. 13-16cm) having a cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 3-4mm) and ring (Wth 1.5-2cm; D 3mm) are to S. A large, oval cupmark (dims. 4cm x 5cm; D 3mm) is within this vicinity. A single ring motif (diam. 10cm) having a ring (Wth 1cm; D 3-4mm) is at the S-end. The area to E of the natural fracture is on a slightly higher level and bears a cup-and-three-ring motif (diam. 30cm) at S which consists of a cupmark (diam. 10cm; D 5mm) and rings (Wth 2-2.5cm; D 4mm), which are complete except the outer ring. This outer ring comprises of continuous pickmarks S->SW, three pickmarks (diam. 8-10mm) SW->W and continuous pickmarks W->NNW. The outer ring terminates in a semi-circle (open to S) of pickmarks (diam. 5cm) at N. The central cupmark of the cup-and-three-ring has a long, radial groove which extends from E and meanders to join the central cupmark of a cup-and-two-ring motif further to N. The cup-and-three-ring motif also incorporates two small cupmarks within the inner ring, either side of the radial groove. The aforementioned cup-and-two-ring motif (diam. 25cm) to N, has a cupmark (diam. 6cm; D 5mm) and rings (Wth 1.5cm; D 3mm). This incorporates three small cupmarks (diam. 2cm; D 4mm), two within the inner ring and one between inner ring and outer ring. These are located on either side of a long, radial groove that extends to E from the central cupmark. A slightly curvilinear groove extends from the outer ring at N and continues to WNW. A rectangular cupmark (dims. 9cm NE-SE; 5.5cm NW-SE; D 3mm) is located to NE of the cup-and-three ring motif. A cup-and-partial ring motif (diam. 14cm) has a cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 5mm) and a ring (Wth 1cm; D 3mm) defining the N-half and a short radial groove (long-axis E-W) extends from the cupmark at E. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 3 March 2017