Cave in Woodland

There is no trace of the 'cave' or Man-made underground passage marked on the 2nd and 3rd editions of the OS 6-inch maps and recorded by Kinahan (1885-86, 427). The area which is on the SE slope of a hill in very good land, has been considerably altered. Kinahan also records a second Man-made underground passage or possibly part of this one closeby. Monitoring was carried out by Mary Henry of Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd under licence No. 04E1596 as part of planning permission granted for the construction of a house at Woodlands, Letterkenny. The site is near a megalithic tomb. Other than evidence for cultivation, the site was featureless. No archaeological features were uncovered in the course of monitoring. (Excavations Bulletin 2004) Testing was carried out at Woodlands, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, by Eoghan Kieran, Moore Archaeological and Environmental Services under licence No. 06E0062 on 8 February 2006. The work was undertaken in advance of the construction of four houses and septic tanks at the site (NGR 219450/415000). The development was at the location of two Man-made underground passages (DG053-012----). There was no visible trace of these monuments on the site. Testing took place over one day and involved the excavation of ten trenches along the footprint of the proposed buildings, septic tanks and approach roadway using a mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless grading bucket. No archaeological material was noted in the development area and bedrock and boulder clay were recorded very close to the surface (Bennett 2009, 101). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983).