Man-made underground passage in Randalstown

Situated on the E of two low hillocks in a gently undulating landscape. This roofless and backfilled Man-made underground passage was identified by K. Campbell in soil stripping (E000332) for a mining operation in September 1985, and excavated the following summer (excavations.ie 1986:065). A curving ramp (L 8m) extended W and turned S with a step up (H 0.4m) to the main passage (L 11.7m) that terminated in a beehive chamber (diam. 3.1m). All the walls were reduced, but five lintels from the main passage remained in place. There were five surface pits but only one (dims 0.9m x 0.75m; D 0.4m) produced material in the form of ten articulated horses’ feet, one complete horse skull and the jawbones of two other horse skulls (Campbell 2004, 2). There was no structure or enclosure associated with this Man-made underground passage, but the well (ME025-003001-) was c. 60m to the SW. (Campbell 2004) See the attached contour survey of the Man-made underground passage site and the well (ME025-003001-) from Campbell 2004, fig. 2) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Revised: 27 March 2023 Campbell, K. 2004 Report on Archaeological Excavation at Randalstown, Co. Meath, in 1986. Licence: E000332. Unpublished report, Author.