Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

This poorly preserved souterrain, not marked on the OS maps, is located at the base of a natural mound known locally as Cnocán na h-Aitinne. It is situated in gently sloping boggy pasture, between the lower SW slopes of Sliveagh and the cliffs N of Cooncrome Harbour. The mound, of irregular plan, measures 19m N-S x 17m E-W and is composed of peat-covered outcrop which rises to a height of 2m above surrounding ground level. Three pre-bog walls radiate out from the mound at NW, NE, and SE, and form part of a larger field-system (KE069-006----). The souterrain is located at the base of the SE side off the mound. In the 1950s much of the stone used in its construction was removed and used for building material (local information). Two short passages are identifiable. The first is .8m long and is capped by two large lintels resting on uprights slabs; it is .95m wide and is aligned E-W. A small surface aperture allows viewing of the second section, 1.3m to W. It is c. 1.5m long, c. 1m wide and is aligned WSW-ENE. It is filled with stone debris to within .4m of its lintels. An elongated depression extends for 6.5m to NNE from it, and may represent a destroyed length of passage.
A grooved whetstone, discovered in this souterrain, is now in NMI (1958:129)

The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 890. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 29 July 2013