What is recorded here

Half-buried in boggy ground on the lower slopes of River Hill, a low sandstone slab still holds two cup-and-ring marks and eight smaller dents. The marks sit in a rough line across its flat face, worn smooth by rain and time. A boulder burial lies a hundred metres north and another rock art slab twenty metres south, suggesting this quiet corner long served more than one purpose. People may have gathered here to mark territory, remember events or simply enjoy the shape of stones beneath open sky.

This example of rock art is located in boggy land on the lower SE slopes of River Hill. Approximately 100m to the N is a boulder-burial (KE091-046001-), and a second example of rock art is located 20m to the S. The exposed portion of this earthfast rock, measuring 1.3m x 1m, bears two cup-and-rings, one of which is gapped, and eight cupmarks, four of which are rather small and occur in a linear arrangement. All motifs survive in a rather weathered condition. 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. 375. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 28 July 2013 In rough pasture (97m OD), on an E-facing slope of low hillock, overlooking Ardsheelhane River valley N->E->S. A smooth and fractured, low profile sandstone rock outcrop (dims. 1.16m NNE-SSW; 1.59m ESE-WNW; max. H 0.39m at SE) with a flat, oval decorated surface (dims. 0.41m N-S; 0.97m E-W). The motifs are distributed in a linear arrangement across the centre of the rock outcrop and include a cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 11cm; ring Wth 1cm; D 3mm; cup diam. 5cm; D 7mm) at E end; A cupmark (diam. 4.5cm; D 4mm) is adjacent to SW. A cup-and-partial-ring motif (overall dims. 16cm x 10cm; ring Wth 2cm; D 4mm; cup diam. 5cm; D 7mm) is off-centre to W; A cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 8mm) is adjacent to WNW and two cupmarks are adjacent to E. There are four small pockmarks (diam. 1.5cm; D 3-4mm) forming a linear arrangement (long-axis E-W), on W side of stone. A small roofed stone building is located c. 20m to NW. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 6 July 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the rock art at Tullakeel may have held ritual or symbolic significance, possibly linked to nearby burial and ceremonial sites. Such motifs are often associated with territorial markers, spiritual beliefs, or ancestral veneration in prehistoric landscapes.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.