Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

The passage of a souterrain lies on the edge of an elevated escarpment above the river Boyne. It is of drystone construction and consists of a simple, unrestricted passage leading into a small terminal chamber entered via an ante-chamber. The original entrance is blocked. It is aligned E-NE/W-SW ( L 6.5m, Wth 0.8m, H 1.1m) before it turns SW towards the terminal chamber ( L 3.8m). This is corbelled with an oval plan (dims. NE-SW 2.5m, N-SE H 1.7m). It is built of drystone walling with local limestone and sandstone. Greywacke is used in the capstones of the chamber. A detailed archaeological and geophysical survey of the immediate area was carried out in 2010 during which a number of additional and potentially significant archaeological features were identified (Fenwick, Dowling and Schot 2010). These previously unrecorded features include a second potential souterrain, a substantial earthen embankment, a low-relief linear earthwork and a well, in addition to geophysical evidence of a large circular, or sub-circular, enclosure (possibly a ringfort) (ME019-090---) and an adjacent field system (ME019-091----). All are situated in close proximity to one another on elevated ground overlooking the River Boyne, some 200m to the south. (Fenwick et al. 2012)

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Date of upload: 11 November 2013

See attached jpeg image which shows location map of souterrain and other archaeological features, taken from Fenwick, Dowling and Schot 2010 report.

References

Fenwick, J., Dowling, G., and Schot, R. 2010 A report on the archaeological and geophysical investigations of a souterrain and nearby archaeological features at Crewbane, Brugh na Bóinne, Slane, Co. Meath. Unpublished report, The Brugh na Bóinne Research Project.

Fenwick, J.; Dowling, G.; Schot, R. and J. Rogers 2012 Crewbane souterrain and nearby archaeological features, Brugh na Boinne, Slane, Co. Meath. Ríocht na Mídhe, 23, 1-25.