Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

Uncovered during monitoring of top soil stripping prior to the development of the technology park (Excavation Licence 98E0440 ext.). Damaged by machine action before excavation commenced. Walls were constructed of roughly coursed drystone and the roof where it survived was composed of a mixture of lintels and corbelling. Three distinct passages were identified. The entrance passage (L 3m) ran E-W then it turned in a N-S direction (L 7m; avg Wth 1m; H 1m) and off this there was a passage running in an E-W direction (L 5m) and curving gently towards the N. A chamber was situated at the end of the N-S passage and a second one at the end of the second E-W passage. The latter chamber (2.5m N-S; 1.5m E-W; max. H 1.5m) was an intact beehive shaped corbelled chamber. Finds included an amber bead, a possible loom weight, half a possible lignite bracelet, several metal objects and a quantity of animal bone. (McLoughlin 2000, 214)

Reference:

McLoughlin, C. 2000 Mullagharlin/Haggardstown, Dundalk. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1999: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 213-15 (No. 610). Bray. Wordwell.

Compiled by: Claire Breen

Date of upload: 30 November 2011