Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

Excavation licence number 99E138. Pre-development testing was carried out between 22 and 24 March 1999 following a report of the discovery of a souterrain on a development site during clearance works at Eleven Ballyboes, Greencastle, Co. Donegal. The development consisted of the construction of a single dwelling-house and septic tank. The testing was carried out with the assistance of a mechanical digger and had two aims: to better define the location of the souterrain and to test those areas of the development site that would be further disturbed as proposed locations for water and sewerage services. The removal of a large spoilheap north-west of the dwelling was also monitored. The site lay on a steep south-east-facing slope, less than one mile north-east of Greencastle village, with a panoramic view of Lough Foyle to the east and south. The souterrain was 1.4-1.7m north-west of the north-west wall of the dwelling that was under construction. A section of the roof of the souterrain had collapsed close to its south-east end. This section was 2.7m long and 0.8-1.2m wide. It revealed a feature constructed of uncoursed rubble and capped by flat stone lintels, orientated north-west/south-east. The souterrain was accessible for a short distance to the north-west of the collapsed section before more collapse blocked access. No excavation was carried out at this location. Seven trenches were excavated, four to the north-west of the dwelling under construction and three to the south-east. Two of the four trenches to the north-west of the development produced undisturbed natural stratigraphy, while the remaining two produced further evidence of the souterrain. Finds were one sherd of pottery (yet to be analysed) recovered from the souterrain interior, three flints from the topsoil, one of which was possibly worked, occasional fragments of bone and several tiny fragments of burnt bone. The two sections of souterrain that were uncovered appeared to represent the main passage, orientated west-north-west/east-south-east, with the original exposed section being a chamber located south, off the passage. Two of the three trenches excavated to the south-east of the development produced undisturbed natural stratigraphy, while the remaining trench contained backfill (recently dumped during construction of the dwelling) above undisturbed natural stratigraphy. The monitoring of the removal of a large spoilheap to the north-west of the development revealed topsoil only. No artefacts were recovered. The test-trenches achieved their aim of better defining the extent of the souterrain. The test-trenching also cleared the area of the proposed sewerage service. Because a section of the souterrain was on the proposed line of the water main, it was recommended that the water main be repositioned along the north-east site boundary.
Richard Crumlish, Archaeological Services Unit Ltd, Purcell House, Oranmore, Co. Galway.