Pluias Na Scriob: Den of the Scribings
A Field Report by Larry Mulligan
New England Antiquities Research Association
Pluias Na Scriob: Den of the Scribings
A Field Report by Larry Mulligan
"In the mountains above Adrigole, between Kenmare and Bantry Bay is a cairn…..near the rock is one with marked Oghams; it is handsomely crossed and recrossed, so as to baffle anyone except an adept in Oghams. It is covered over with an immense stone as if to conceal them and you must stoop very low to get a good view of them." - Dr. William Grant, Tuosist 6000
Pluais Na Scriob
So went the description in 1843 of a most unique site located in County Kerry, Ireland, by a Mr. Gahan to a Mr. J. Windele, a local antiquarian. This is the first known appearance in the local history of the Pluais Na Scriob, or Den of the Scribings.
Today the site is mostly unknown or forgotten, perhaps due to its remote location. In 1902, the noted Dublin archaeologist R. A. Macalister was unable to locate the site and concluded it probably did not exist.
Mr. Stephen O’Shea and Larry Mulligan
inside Pluais Na Scriob
The "den" is actually two enormous stones, one leaning upon the other. The vertical surface of the larger stone is more than 21 feet in length, and 7 feet in height. It is completely covered by well over a thousand incised lines of various lengths, depths, and groupings. There is virtually no space untouched by these markings. The outer edges are heavily eroded due to their exposure to the elements, and the bottom has begun to break away, further losing parts of itself.
The markings themselves have been described as being a divergent form of Ogham, or an earlier stage of the known, conventional forms we know of today. Recent opinions have ranged from a “sheep tally” (One wonders why someone would run in and out of such an enclosure and incise tally marks in stone while counting anything) to an organized type of writing. Approximately one third of all known Ogham inscriptions in Ireland occur in County Kerry, so it is in the right neighborhood, so to speak.
The leaning slab, while protecting the markings, makes photographing them in their entirety impossible. The photos that follow highlight the more interesting areas of the stone.
Figure 3 & Fig 4
In Figure 3, many features are visible. Several distinct groupings can be seen, as well as possible stemlines.
Figure 4 shows the upper left center of the panel. The long, deeper lines on the right side bisect the entire panel perfectly.
Figure 5 & 6
Figure 5 is a closer shot of the previous photo. Note the older appearance of these lines as opposed to the ones in figure 3. Distinct groupings can be seen here as well.
Figure 6 shows the area to the left of Figure 5. Here the lines along the upper portion of the panel appear older than the ones below.
Figure 7 & 8
Figure 7 shows natural cracks in the stone possibly being used as stemlines, and also the way all parts of the vertical surface were used.
Figure 8 shows other types of groupings, and a random (?) chevron.
Figure 9
Figure 9 showing more groupings, and the bottom of the panel breaking away from itself.
Our new friend and guide Stephen O’Shea
at a nearby standing stone.
Your comments and observations are welcome:
Copyright © 2004 by Larry Mulligan
New England Antiquities Research Association
