Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

In outcrop of old red sandstone immediately S of site of Dunisky church and graveyard (CO083-013001-). Discovered in 1927; investigated by L.S. Gogan (NMI) in 1930 after access was facilitated using explosives. The followingis a synopsis of an investigation by J.P. McCarthy (1977, 225-38; no measurements given).
At least seven rock-cut chambers; present entrance, at S side of rock outcrop, is long narrow tunnel (long axis N-S) unroofed at S end and leading to S end of chamber 1. All chambers have barrel-vaulted roofs.
Chamber 1: subrectangular (long axis N-S); small creephole at W side to collapsed passage; collapsed construction shaft at NW; rock cut ledge at S end; floor slopes upwards to N end; creepway at N end to chamber 2.
Chamber 2: wedge-shaped (long axis N-S); floor level, narrowing towards N end; small recess at N end; short stone wall at SW corner in arched recess; rock cut ledge on E side. At N end of E wall creepway to chamber 3; creepway is staggered, first section being narrower than second.
Chamber 3: rectangular (long axis E-W); floor level. Collapsed construction shaft at E end shared with chambers 4 and 5. Stone walling set into arched recess at E end. Rock cut benches along N, S and W walls. Creepholes opposite each other at E end of N and S walls to chambers 4 and 5, respectively.
Chamber 4: rectangular (long axis N-S); floor level. At SE side is low platform raised 0.15m above floor. Passage leads E from S end of E wall to original entrance.
Chamber 5: rectangular (long axis N-S). Short stone wall at N side. Floor slopes from N-S. Long creepway at S end 0.45m above floor level to chamber 6. Rock cut bench along E wall.
Chamber 6: oval-shaped (long axis N-S); floor slopes downwards to S; rock ledges at E and W sides; square hole in floor at SE corner silted up, possibly a well.
Chamber 7: (long axis N-S) lies at S end of chamber 6.
Finds recorded are mallet head (Gogan) and two portions of furnace bottom (McCarthy).
McCarthy (ibid.) describes the souterrain as atypical and suggests a 12th century date and associations with church.

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