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. 365. 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 (80m OD), on a W-facing slope; Excellent views of Ballinskelligs Bay to SW and Lough Currane to SE. Not seen. There was ‘a lightly picked square’ recorded upon an outcrop 5m to S of rock art site (KE098-136----) by Finlay (O’Sullivan & Sheehan 1996, 106). There is extremely weathered rock outcrop at this location which is obscured by sod, moss and furze. It is feasible that subtle motifs may be present beneath this vegetation, although limited investigation proved negative. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 7 July 2017

The rock art in Spunkane is likely from the Neolithic or Bronze Age period, based on the style and context of such sites in Ireland. The decoration may have had ritual or territorial significance, possibly linked to early farming communities or local folklore associated with the surrounding landscape.