What is recorded here

Clear water still moves fourteen metres north while human marks hold firm on weathered sandstone. Cups and rings cluster near the south end, perhaps mapping memory, ownership or the shape of rain across upland pasture. A bifurcated groove and pocked rectangle emerged only when peat was removed, suggesting the stone kept more than it first showed.

The weathered upper surface of this large angular boulder measures 4m x 3.6m and slopes upwards to W. Most of the carving occurs near its S end, where there are five cup-and-rings, three cup-and-two rings, the outer ring in one being gapped, at least six cupmarks and a scattering of pocking. Beside one of the cupmarks is a lightly pocked, incomplete oval. Removal of a .4m thick layer of peat from the N end of the stone about twenty years ago revealed a 2.7m long bifurcated groove and a pocked outline rectangle adjacent at N (Anati 1963, 10, No. 13; Finlay 1973, 85). See attached drawing of rock art taken from O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996, Fig. 60 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. 314. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. In upland heath pasture, on a slight NE-facing slope (106m OD). Very rough and fractured, substantial sandstone rock outcrop (dims. 4m N-S; 3.6m E-W; H 1.7m) with a square decorated surface (dims. 0.5m N-S; 3.6m E-W) having an E-facing aspect. The rock art is very weathered yet traceable and concentrated on the southern end of the rock surface: Nine single cupmarks (diam. c. 3-4cm; D 3-4mm); five cup-and-one ring (total diam. c. 8cm) having a cupmark (diam. 4cm; D 4mm) and ring (Wth 1cm); three cup-and-two rings (total diam. c. 14-15cm) having a cupmark (diam. 4cm; D 4mm) and ring (Wth 1-1.5cm). One of the cup-and-one ring are incomplete and one cup-and-two rings has a gapped outer ring. Some pick marks and a linear groove (dims. L 2.6m E-W; Wth 1.5-2cm; D 3mm) are situated off-centre to N. A stream is located c. 14m to N and farm roadway is c. 6m to E. Rock Art (KE082-034002-) is adjacent to N. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 9 March 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, this rock art may have held ritual or symbolic significance, possibly linked to astronomical observations or territorial markers. Cup-and-ring motifs are commonly associated with prehistoric ceremonial landscapes in Atlantic Europe.

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