Man-made underground passage in Kill (muskerry West By.)

The discovery of a potential archaeological monument during the course of ground works associated with the construction of a single dwelling house was reported to Tobar Archaeological Services (TAS) on the 20th April 2015. During the ground reduction towards the south end of the site a small hole/cavity was noted in the exposed subsoil. Initially it was thought that this was a sinkhole and the hole was subsequently widened by the machine. The location of the widened hole now allows access from the south into a barrel-vaulted earth-cut chamber measuring between 1.35m and 2m in width (E/W) and 3.5m in length (N/S). A ledge/step is apparent at the south end of the chamber and may have been stone-faced as some in situ and displaced stones are apparent here, particularly at the south-west. At the north end of the chamber a second step/ledge is apparent and leads into a shallow splayed recess blocked with drystone walling. This may represent a backfilled or deliberately blocked construction shaft, although this cannot yet be confirmed. A shallow recess in the east wall of the chamber was also visible and measured c. 0.9m in width (N/S). Opposite the aforementioned recess a narrow creep is apparent extending out of this chamber in a north-westerly direction. The opening measures c. 0.6m in width, however the creep appears to narrow as it extends to the north-west. Stones which may be more drystone walling are visible a short distance along the creep and may indicate where the passage turns to the north/north-east. There may also be a second chamber beyond the creep but this could not be confirmed during the initial site inspection due to health and safety concerns (pers. comm. Miriam Carroll, Tobar Archaeological Services). Compiled by: Matt Kelleher Date of upload: 23 April 2015