Man-made underground passage in An Mhín Aird Thiar

This Man-made underground passage is surrounded on the surface by some confused depressions and stony mounds which do not form any recognisable pattern at present. There was formerly a tradition of a ringfort on the site (information: Steve McDonogh) but the tradition no longer survives and the present remains are too confused for interpretation. The Man-made underground passage is roughly L-shaped in plan and consists of a passage and chamber linked by a short creepway. The passage measures 2.68m in length, up to .95m in width and up to .8m in height; it is aligned N-S. The drystone-built walls are slightly corbelled at top and the passage is roofed by 4 large slabs. A sloping ramp leads down from the external ground level to an entrance in the N wall of the passage; this measures .7m in width and .45m in height. The creepway opening off the S wall of the passage is .45m wide, .55m high and .7m long; it is roofed by a single slab. It opens onto the E end of the N wall of the chamber which is aligned E-W. The latter is 2.35m long, 1.5m high and 1m wide. The walls are constructed of upright slabs overlain by drystone walling and the W wall has collapsed. Five slabs roof the chamber. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 784. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013