Souterrain

The National Monuments Service's description

On an E-facing slope in undulating terrain, under tillage. A levelled ringfort (TS088-010001-) is located c. 30-40m to the SW. Collapsed roofing (gap 0.6m x 0.7m) has exposed a sub-rectangular corbelled chamber (dims. NE-SW 1.8m; NW-SE 3m; H 1.75m) of limestone rubble (dims. stones 0.1-0.3m) construction. There is a low lintelled entrance (Wth 0.65m; apparent H 0.45m) in the NW wall leading to a blocked passage (Wth 1.3m) and another lintelled entrance in the NE wall which is blocked by a large mound of collapsed earth and stone which occupies most of the chamber. The entrance in the NE wall leads via a short passage (L c. 1.1m) to a chamber to the NE which it was possible to peer into but not access. This chamber (H c. 1.1m) is roofed by large lintels (L at least 1.6m; Wth 0.52m) and also has a mound of earth within in, which has been washed down through the gap in the lintels. It appears to be similar in size to the chamber to the NW. There is a large lintel in the NE wall of the NE chamber which appears to be an entrance to another passage and chamber. There appear to be four chambers in all, one chamber NW of the accessible chamber and another chamber NE of visible but inaccessible chamber. This is also supported by locals who have accessed the souterrain in the past and according to whom it was possible for a man to stand in a chamber and not be able to touch the roof.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011