Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

In an earthwork (MA091-001001-).
This stone-built souterrain is indicated on the 1920 edition as ‘Cave’. It is exposed at surface level on the broadly sloping W slope of the earthwork/mound. The W terminal of the passage is located at the base of the mound, and from there the passage zig-zags upslope to the crest of the mound, with a difference in level of over 2m between the E and W terminals of the passage.
A short length (L 2.7m NE−SW) of the passage remains intact at its lower W end. Here the end wall is formed by an upright slab which rests on a single low foundation course of small stones. The end slab coincides with, and is set into, the lower outer scarp of the earthwork. A large boulder is set in the ground immediately outside (to W) of the end stone, possibly a support stone. A section (L 2.7m; Wth 1.35m; H 0.8m at SW end) of the passage, directly in front (to E) of the end wall, remains intact with side walls, three to four courses high, constructed of large stones or boulders, with slightly projecting corbels at the top of the walls supporting a row of three massive in situ limestone roof lintels. Earthen infill at the NE end of this intact section reduces the internal height to 0.54m. Elsewhere along its length, the passage is missing its roof lintels and is evident as a grassed-over depression (Wth 2.4m; D 0.4m), with stones protruding randomly from the sod-covered sides.
From the W end wall the passage is level, extending to NE for 7.7m, then it turns to SSE for 7.3m rising gently with the lower contours of the mound, then it swings upslope to E for 6m ending at the top edge of the mound.

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 11 February 2022