Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

On a small knoll. This souterrain was discovered in 1994 in the process of digging for gravel and was subsequently investigated. It consists of three beehive-shaped earth-cut chambers joined by creepways. The location of the original entrance to the souterrain was not established. Chamber 1 (2.7m N-S; 1.6m E-W; H 0.65m) was accessed via a small opening, created by a bulldozer, in its NW corner. The floor of the chamber slopes down to the E. Sections of uncoursed drystone-walling are evident on the E and W walls. There is a creepway (L 0.74m; Wth 0.43m; H 0.48m) in the E corner with a large stone at its E end. This creepway leads into chamber 2 (1.3m E-W; 1.25m N-S; H 1.1m). The floor level in chamber 2 is c. 0.3m lower than that of chamber 1. The N and S walls also have some drystone-walling similar to that in chamber 1. In the NW corner of chamber 2 is a creepway (L 0.9m; Wth 0.41m; H 0.5m) which leads into chamber 3. Chamber 3 (3.2m N-S; max. Wth 1.95m; max. H 1.62m) is the largest of the three chambers. Some drystone-walling is evident on the E wall. Traces of charcoal were noted on the floor of chamber 1, adjacent to the creepway. (Kiely 1994)

The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009).

Date of upload: 22 December 2009