Cave

In a rath (MA070-131001-) This Man-made underground passage is indicated as ‘Cave’ in the NE quadrant of the rath on the 1838 OS 6-inch map; it is not shown on later map editions. When inspected in 2021, an opening into the Man-made underground passage was located in a copse of hazel and hawthorn in the SE qudarant of the ringfort. A lintel-roofed creep (L 3.2m NNE/SSW; Wth 0.7m; H 0.9m) leads down into a chamber. The chamber (4.8m NNE-SSW; W 2.7m; H 2.0m) is of drystone construction with a corbelled roof. The floor is strewn with loose rubble. A recess/niche (W 0.36m; H 0.36m; D 1.85m) is built into the wall at a height of 0.78m above the floor level at the NNE end of the chamber. Immediately to W of the recess there is an lintelled opening (W 0.56m; H 0.56m) at a height of 0.36m above floor level into a passage, which extends to NNE but is partly collapsed. (Pers. comm. Richard Crumlish). Attached images are provided courtesy of Richard Crumlish: MA070-131002-_01.JPG Entrance to Man-made underground passage MA070-131002-_02.JPG Rubble-strewn interior of chamber MA070-131003-_03.JPG Opening into passage at NNE end of chamber, with wall recess above it at R. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 13 August 2021