Rock art in Letter West

Located in a .6m deep bog-cutting, c. 75m N of KE071-001----, this decorated section of rock measures 1.45m x .95m. It was revealed by peat-cutting in the late 1960s. The decoration is confined to the E half of the stone, and consists of three conjoined subrectangular areas defined by grooves, and eighteen cupmarks. The majority of the cupmarks are disposed within the subrectangular areas and some are linked by short grooves (Finlay 1973, 50-1). See attached drawing of rock art taken from O'Sullivan and Sheehan 1996, Fig. 47 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. 351. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013 In area of cutaway bog (196m OD), overlooking landscape of River Behy valley to NE; Turfbank (long-axis NE-SW; H 0.55m) is c. 1.4m to SE and stream is c. 27m to NW. A slightly rough and fractured sandstone rock (dims. 1.30m NE-SW, 0.50m NW-SE, max. H 0.05m) with a very flat, low profile decorated surface (dims. 1.30m NE-SW, 0.50m NW-SE) which is subrectangular in plan and bearing weathered motifs affected by freeze-thaw. O’Sullivan & Sheehan (1996, 83; Fig. 47c) depict a larger rectangular decorated surface whereby, ‘decoration is confined to the E half of the stone, and consists of three conjoined subrectangular areas defined by grooves, and eighteen cupmarks. The majority of the cupmarks are disposed within the subrectangular areas and some are linked by short grooves (Finlay 1973, 50-1)’. Only the northern portion of the decorated surface is currently visible as elsewhere is obscured by peat, moss and waterlogged areas. A rectilinear area (dims. 0.41m NW-SE; 0.30m NE-SW) defined by a groove of pickmarks is located in N corner of decorated surface; encloses two cupmarks and an obvious pickmark. The northern portion of the larger rectilinear area depicted by O’Sullivan & Sheehan (ibid), is evident and is defined by a line of pickmarks (Wth 1m; D 4mm) which encloses two cupmarks (diam. 3-4.5cm; D 4-6mm). A cupmark is located at the NW edge and S area of the decorated surface that is currently exposed. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 5 July 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, the rock art may have had ritual or territorial significance, possibly linked to early farming communities or spiritual practices in the area.