What is recorded here

Coomlettra is a rocky SW-facing slope in County Kerry where an earthfast boulder beside a stream carries two cup-and-ring motifs and a separate area of pock-marks. The larger motif has four rings, one possibly lost to chipping, while the smaller has three rings pierced by a radial groove that runs into a natural fracture. The stone sits in rough pasture near roofless buildings, exposing ancient marks still legible after weather, water and time.

In rough pasture, on a rocky SW-facing slope. An earthfast boulder (3.45m E-W; 2.2m N-S; H 0.35m), beside a stream, displays three weathered motifs on its level upper surface. Off-centre to S is a cup-and-three rings (diam. 0.28m) with a radial groove extending outwards through the rings. To the N of this is a cup-and-four rings (diam. c. 0.32m) with the faint trace of an arc of a possible fifth ring. Chipping of the surface may have removed the S half of the motif. There is a separate area of pock-marks towards the W end of the stone. 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 In level area of rough pasture (156m OD), with abundant rock outcrop and earthfast boulders; good view across valley of mountain stream, to W. A smooth and fractured rock (dims. 2.21m N-S, 3.42m E-W, H 0.63m at S), which is very weathered. This boulder has a flat, roughly triangular decorated surface (dims. 1.00m NE-SW, 1.30m NW-SE) which is uneven. The motifs are clearly visible and consist of a pen-annular cup-and-three-ring motif (overall dims. 29cm; cup diam. 7cm; D 12mm; ring Wth 1.5cm; D 5mm) off-centre to N of the stone; A radial groove (dims. L 38cm; Wth 1.5cm; D 5mm) extends from cup at E and is linear (L 17cm) before extending into a smooth, natural fracture. A cup-and-four-ring motif (overall dims. 32cm E-W; 24cm N-S; cup diam. 6cm; D 10mm; ring Wth 1cm; D 4mm) is c. 37cm to S; Rings are present E->S->W and appear to be fractured off (possibly by freeze-thaw action) SW->N->E. A ledge (H 10cm) is adjacent to E. An area of pickmarks (dims. 43cm N-S; 30cm E-W) is located 0.69m to E and each pickmark (diam. 4mm; D 3mm) is well defined. A stream is c. 10m to SW and a stone wall enclosing two roofless buildings are c. 15m to SSE. Identified by Paddy O’Sullivan, Teagasc Agricultural Advisor (1998). Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 5 July 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the cup-and-three-rings motif is commonly associated with ritual or ceremonial practices, possibly linked to water sources and the surrounding landscape. Similar symbols in other regions have been interpreted as markers of territorial, spiritual, or astronomical significance.

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