Rock art in Ballykissane

In improved pasture (21m OD), on a low rise, within children’s burial ground (KE056-009----) known as ‘Kilbrack Burial Ground’. Glimpse of Castlemaine Harbour to N and excellent views along Slieve Mish and other mountains of the Dingle Peninsula to W. Situated beneath a whitethorn tree at N side of burial ground and possibly ex-situ. A smooth and fractured, loose boulder (dims. 1.08m NNE-SSW; 0.84m ESE-WNW; max. T 0.22m) propped upon a single stone and having a thin, horizontal fracture (long-axis ENE-WSW) across its upper surface. It has a subrectangular decorated surface (dims. 1.08m NNE-SSW; 0.84m ESE-WNW) bearing sixteen decorative elements which are in good condition. These consist of a large cup-and-ring motif (overall diam. 18cm; ring Wth 2-2.5cm; D 2-3cm; cup diam. 8cm; D 20mm) at NE end of decorated surface. Two other cup-and-ring motifs are adjacent to SW. A composite element (overall dims. 32cm x 24cm) comprising of a cup-and-ring motif and a cupmark enclosed by a partial ring, is located toward SW area of decorated surface. Twelve cupmarks (range diam. 5-9cm; D 5-14mm) are distributed across the surface. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 6 July 2017

Rock art in Ballykissane is likely from the Neolithic or Bronze Age, given its location within a children’s burial ground, suggesting a ritual or funerary context. Such rock art may have held symbolic meaning related to death, ancestor veneration, or landscape orientation.