Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on top of a broad low hill in an undulating landscape. A beehive chamber of a complex souterrain (No. 2) (ME005-104----) was accidently discovered in December 1987, and the area was excavated (E000460) the following summer when a this souterrain came to light which proved to be earlier. No structures were associated with the souterrains and evidence of an enclosing bank or ditch was not encountered. The absence of an enclosure was confirmed by a resisitivity survey, and the souterrains were conserved by the landowner, presumably by closing. (Eogan 1990)
This earlier souterrain (No. 1) consists of a passage (L 3m; Wth 0.8m; H 0.7-1.25m) entered at the E end by a vertical pit or shaft that was not detected in excavation. The passage leads W to a beehive chamber (diam. 3m; H 2m), which had a layer of silt on the floor. A shallow oval pit (dims 1.2m x 0.75m) was dug through this, indicating recent disturbance, probably in the eighteenth century. The entrance passage of souterrrain 2 (ME005-104----) was run through the short passage of this souterrain at a slightly higher level and incorporated its beehive chamber as a spur to the W. Primary finds, mostly from the passage, included a bone comb, fragment of a bronze escutcheon from a bowl, an iron chisel and an iron knife, suggesting that it could have been extant by the eight century. (Eogan 1990, 47-50)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 5 September 2018

References

Eogan, G. 1990 Ballynee Souterrains, Co. Meath. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, 120, 41-64.