What is recorded here

Twelve ancient marks sit on a flat sandstone boulder in rocky Kerry heath, overlooking the Behy river valley and distant mountains. Someone cut small cups and a partial ring into the smooth stone, perhaps mapping water, marking territory, or recording a event now lost. The valley still drops away beside the boulder, waiting for people to notice what was placed there.

In rocky mountain heath (190m OD), on a NE-facing slope. Excellent views of Behy river valley to NE with Seefin and Droum Mountains in background. Small dry valley adjacent to SE. A smooth and fractured sandstone boulder (dims. 1.27m NW-SE; 0.6m NE-SW; H 0.3m at SE) which is subrectangular in plan. It has a flat, subrectangular decorated surface (dims. 0.7m NW-SE; 0.3m NE-SW). The decorated surface bears at least twelve motifs: There are nine cupmarks smallest (diam. 3cm; D 4mm) and largest (diam. 6cm; D 6mm). A partial cup-and-ring motif (cup diam. 8cm; D 6mm) is enclosed by a ring (Wth 2cm; D 2-3mm) E->S->SW. There is a pickmark to ENE and a second to N, where the ring is not traceable. A pickmark (diam. 1cm; D 2mm) is adjacent to SE of the largest single cupmark. A long, smooth solution mark is located at SE end of decorated surface. Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 18 July 2017

Likely dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age, this rock art may have held ritual or territorial significance, possibly linked to landscape features or seasonal movements. No specific folklore is recorded, but its positioning suggests a connection to ancient pathways or ceremonial practices.

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