Rock art in Spunkane

This site is located on the SW spur of Knag hill, overlooking Lough Currane to E and Ballinskelligs Bay to W. The weathered decoration occurs on two horizontal surfaces of a large section of rock outcrop, which falls almost vertically at W. The larger surface bears three cup-and-two rings, the outer rings in each case being gapped, one cup-and-ring, and four cupmarks, one with a radial groove. The second surface features two cup-and-rings, three cupmarks, and two linear grooves. One of the cup-and-rings has the arc of a second ring, which terminates at one end with a cupmark. Finlay recorded another decorated surface 40m to the W of this which featured a cup-and-ring, partly enclosed in a Y-shaped figure formed by grooves, a cupmark with radial groove, and a short straight groove (1973, 61-2; Fig. 72). 5m to S was a lightly picked square. Neither of these surfaces can now be identified. 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. 363. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 28 July 2013 In rough mountain heath (86m OD), upon an exposed rocky crag, on a W-facing slope; Excellent views of Lough Currane to SE and Ballinskelligs Bay to SW. A very rough and fractured area of rock outcrop (dims. 4.60m NNW-SSE; 4.10m WSW-ENE; max. H 2.50m at W) which has a W-facing cliff-edge. The motifs are situated upon two areas of rock (dims. 2.20m NNW-SSE; 3.80m WSW-ENE) which are separated by a sod-filled crevice. The motifs are extremely weathered, being further obscured by natural fissures (c. long-axis E-W) which are becoming quite deep (D 4-5mm) upon W side. The main decorated surface is upon a relatively flat area of rock outcrop and bears a large cup-and-two-ring motif (overall diam. 57cm; ring Wth 2-2.5cm; D 3-4cm; cup diam. 17cm; D 17mm) at SE side of decorated surface; outer ring is very weathered and difficult to trace. A cupmark (diam. 8cm; D 8mm) adjacent to NW has a radial groove (L 29cm) extending from E side. A cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 31cm; ring Wth 2.5cm; D 3cm; cup diam. 20cm; D 14mm) is upon N side of decorated surface. A cup-and-two-ring motif (overall diam. 28cm; ring Wth 2cm; D 3cm; cup diam. 10cm; D 9mm) is adjacent to W; Outer ring is difficult to trace due to weathering. Cupmarks (range diam. 8-10cm; D 13-15mm) to W. A previously unrecorded, shallow cupmark (diam. 14cm; D 7mm) is located 1.16m to ENE of aforementioned cup-and-ring motif and is on a gentle NE-facing surface. Sod has been removed from this area in relatively recent times and there is no lichen growth. A ledge (H 5cm) separates this cupmark from the main decorated surface. The second decorated surface is located 1.55m to NW and is separated from the main decorated surface by a deep crevice filled with sod and grass. There are two cupmarks (diam. 4.5-5cm; D 1cm) situated upon either side of a cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 23cm; ring Wth 2.5cm; D 3-4cm; cup diam. 9cm; D 2mm). The cupmarks have possibly been deepened by erosion due to the exposed location. There is a partial outer ring NW->N->ESE which is very difficult to trace. A third cupmark (diam. 7cm; D 2cm) is partially covered in sod, adjacent to N. Only part of the NW decorated rock surface is visible, as sod and furze obscure the N side of the decorated surface. This masks a cup-and-ring motif, a linear groove and a cupmark depicted by O’Sullivan & Sheehan (1996, 107: Fig. 71). Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 6 July 2017