Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

Marked as a 'Cave' on the 2nd edition of the OS 6-inch maps and recorded by Kinahan (1885-86, 427). There is now no trace visible of this monument. It was situated on the SE slope of a hill in good land. There has been a lot of reclamation in the vicinity.

Testing was carried out at Woodlands, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, by Eoghan Kieran, Moore Archaeological and Environmental Services under licence No. 06E0062 on 8 February 2006. The work was undertaken in advance of the construction of four houses and septic tanks at the site (NGR 219450/415000). The development was at the location of two souterrains (DG053-011----). There was no visible trace of these monuments on the site. Testing took place over one day and involved the excavation of ten trenches along the footprint of the proposed buildings, septic tanks and approach roadway using a mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless grading bucket. No archaeological material was noted in the development area and bedrock and boulder clay were recorded very close to the surface (Bennett 2009, 101).

The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated.

Compiled by Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload/revision: 14 November 2011