Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

Located in a rath (MA048-050001-). Marked on the 1922 OS 6-inch map as ‘Cave’, at the SW edge of the rath. An inspection in 1996 found no surface trace of the souterrain (SMR file). In February 2013, natural subsidence caused the collapse of one of the roofing lintels of the souterrain. The resulting opening (diam. c. 0.50m) in the field surface revealed a chamber of drystone construction. The chamber (L c. 4.2m N–S; Wth 2.7m; H 1.9m) is roughly oval in plan, with walls constructed of roughly coursed, irregular-shaped large stones and boulders. The walls are gently corbelled towards the top to support a roof of large overlapping stone slabs. At the S end of the chamber, the slight displacement of one of the roofing lintels, at some unknown time in the past, has allowed a large heap of sandy soil to spill into the chamber, obscuring the S wall and covering much of the floor area. At its N end, the chamber connects with a short passage (L 1.85m N–S; Wth 0.6m E–W; H at least 0.8m), roofed with two lintels. The surface access hole overlies the S end of the passage, and has caused the collapse of part of its E wall. The roof of the passage is continuous with that of the chamber but the passage floor may be set at a higher level. However, the exact form of the junction between the passage and the chamber could not be examined as it is now obscured by a collapsed lintel and a pile of displaced soil and stones. The N, or end wall, of the passage is obscured by a heap of soil and it was not possible to determine if the souterrain continues beyond this point.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 18 February 2013