What is recorded here

Rock art in Coumduff, County Kerry, Ireland includes cup-marked stones, some with circles around the cups. One stone fell from a bank and lay against it when Mr. Adams saw it in 1953. That stone has not been found since, though the field boundaries around Coumduff have been walked and searched. The marks may have belonged to someone who watched rain, counted herds, or simply pleased their eye before forgetting the stone entirely.

While inspecting the above examples of rock art in Coumduff, Mr. Adams (CKFC 1953) was brought to a 3rd stone which lay against the bank from which it had previously fallen. It was decorated with numerous cup-marks, at least two of which were enclosed by circles. This has not been located. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 180. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 4 August 2013 In improved pasture, on a SE-facing slope. While inspecting other examples of rock art (KE044-023----) in Coumduff, Mr. Adams (CKFC 1953) was brought to another stone which lay against the bank from which it had previously fallen. It was decorated with numerous cup-marks, at least two of which were enclosed by rings. The field boundaries around this area were inspected during the current survey and this stone could not be located. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 7 July 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the rock art at Coumduff may have had ritual or symbolic significance, as cup-marks are commonly associated with ceremonial or territorial marking in prehistoric contexts.

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