Cup-and-Ring Stone (lost): OS Grid Reference – Q 547 012
Archaeology & History
This is one of two impressive petroglyphs that were discovered by Lord Dunraven and Rev. James Graves in the mid-1870s, “near Ballynasare bridge”, but which are now lost (the other one is the Ballynasare Bridge (2) stone). This carving is the larger and more impressive of the two that they found, on which he described some of the carved rings as “incomplete.” Although Graves (1877) didn’t give a detailed description of the carving, this drawing (right) more than makes up for his lack of words. One of the features that he did tell us about was one of the primary motifs in this design which modern students like to call radial grooves. “Sometimes,” he wrote, “a short and slightly curved line, drawn from a hollow outside the circle to the central cup, passes through the open part of the circumference. More frequently, this line stops short just as it reaches the break in the circle.”
The grid reference here is an approximation given in Cuppage’s (1986) excellent survey, who told that its “precise location is not now known and may have been in any of the four townlands which converge at the bridge.” Hopefully it’ll be hiding away in some undergrowth, awaiting the attention of an antiquarian explorer. Are there any local folk who are able to help us out with this one?
References:
- Cuppage, Judith, Archaeological Survey of the Dingle Peninsula, Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne: Ballyferriter 1986.
- Graves, James, “On Cup and Circle Sculptures as Occurring in Ireland,” in Journal Royal Society Antiquaries, Ireland, volume 4 (4th series), April 1877.
© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian
