Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, on break in S-facing slope. Discovered in 1991 following collapse; investigated by Jane O'Shaughnessy, UCC. Two interconnecting chambers, constructed at different depths below ground level. Chamber 1: stone-built, rectangular (L 3.43m; Wth 1.3m; H 1.6m; long axis NNW-SSE); walls slightly corbelled to support lintels; entrance to ventilation shaft at floor level in E wall; lintelled entrance to stone-lined creepway (L 0.5m; Wth 0.5m; H 0.4m) at S end. Chamber 2: earth-cut, oval-shaped (L 3m; Wth 1.5m; H 1.1m; long axis N-S); floor 0.7m below chamber 1; roof barrel-vaulted. Creepway has sharp downward incline because of difference in floor levels. Shallow fosse-like depression forming semi-circular arc immediately to W of souterrain could be remains of enclosing element; area site of early 19th-century settlement.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009