What is recorded here

Coomasaharn hides two small cupmarks inside a gapped oval on a sloping sandstone ledge above the lake. The marks are shallow enough that rain, lichen and forgetfulness keep returning them to the rock, yet the groove between them still points like a sentence half spoken. Whoever made it worked quickly, perhaps marking a boundary, a gift or a warning for people who moved through that rough pasture. The lake remains visible below, giving the hidden drawing a witness even when no person is near.

This rock has a gently sloping upper surface which measures 1.05m x .7m. An irregular outline groove encloses two cupmarks, one contained within an oval and the other within a circle which is gapped as a result of weathering. A radial groove joins one cupmark to its oval frame, which in turn is joined to the outer frame by a short groove (O’Kelly 1958a, 3, No.4; Finlay 1973, 46). See attached drawing of rock art taken from O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996, Fig. 48 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. 276. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 28 July 2013 In upland, rough pasture, adjacent to N of fenceline of small field, on a steep SSE-facing slope (218m OD). Good views over Coomasaharn Lake to S. A smooth and fractured, low-lying sandstone rock outcrop (dims. 1.85m N-S; 1.10m E-W; max. H 0.55m at NE), which is irregular in plan and has a relatively level, yet uneven decorated surface (dims. 0.3m NE-SW x 0.22m NW-SE) covered by lichens. There is one faint motif (dims. 0.22m NW-SE; 0.3m NE-SW) consisting of a double cupmark (each diam. 7cm; D 4-5mm) enclosed by a faint oval ring (Wth 1.0cm; D 2mm). This rock art example is enclosed by gorse bushes to NW and SE and is inconspicuous. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 3 March 2017

This rock art is likely from the Neolithic or Bronze Age period, based on the presence of cupmarks and grooves typical of prehistoric ritual or symbolic sites. The cupmarks and enclosing shapes may have had ceremonial or astronomical significance, possibly linked to water or fertility symbolism.

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