What is recorded here

Kealduff Upper holds a steep rock face decorated with cupmarks, rings and long meandering grooves that cut through mountain heath. The carvings suggest a place where people marked time, movement or memory before written records existed. Much of the meaning has faded, but the shapes still point outward across the valley like a message half forgotten.

The decorated surface of this rock measures 2.2m x 1.75m and slopes steeply upwards to SW. The carving comprises three simple cupmarks, one cup-and-radial groove, six cup-and-rings, and three meandering grooves, the longest of which occurs towards the centre of the stone. Of the cup-and-rings, two of the rings are gapped, possibly because of weathering, two feature radial grooves, and two exhibit light pocking within the spaces enclosed by the rings. See attached drawing of rock art taken from O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996, Fig. 64 (b) 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. 344. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. In mountain heath (145m), on a general NE-facing slope; Good views all around especially N->E->SE overlooking the River Behy valley. Not located and no specific location information in SMR file. According to O’Sullivan & Sheehan (1996, 101), ‘The decorated surface of this rock measures 2.2m x 1.75m and slopes steeply upwards to SW. The carving comprises three simple cupmarks, one cup-and-radial groove, six cup-and-rings, and three meandering grooves, the longest of which occurs towards the centre of the stone. Of the cup-and-rings, two of the rings are gapped, possibly because of weathering, two feature radial grooves, and two exhibit light pocking within the spaces enclosed by the rings.’ Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 5 July 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, this rock art may have had ritual or symbolic significance, possibly linked to water sources or landscape features. Cup-and-ring marks are commonly associated with ceremonial or territorial markers in prehistoric Britain and Ireland.

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