Man-made underground passage in Rathfield

A Man-made underground passage, not marked on the OS maps, was discovered at this location in 1980 during the digging of the foundations for a house. It was inspected by Sweetman (OPW) prior to being closed up, and the following description is based on his report. The stone-built Man-made underground passage consists of three chambers and three passages, including an entrance passage. The latter is located at the W end of the structure and is 1.6m long. Aligned NE-SW, its drystone-built side-walls are capped with large lintels. Both its roof and floor levels rise upwards to SW, and at NE it leads into the S end of the first chamber. Both the N and S end-walls of this 3.1m long chamber are constructed of upright slabs overlain by drystone walling. It narrows towards its N end where it measures .7m wide. From here a passage extends E for 2m to provide access to the W end of the larger, second chamber. This passage is .5m wide, and its sides are revetted with upright stones overlain by drystone walling. The second chamber, which is aligned E-W, is 3.5m long, 1.25m wide and almost 1m high. Its lintelled roof was disturbed when the Man-made underground passage was discovered. At the E end of its S wall is the entrance into the final chamber which is 2.4m long and 1m wide. A low, narrow passage curves to NE from the NE angle of the second chamber. It is 5m long and varies in width from .4m to .7m. Constructed of upright slabs with overlying drystone masonry, it is blocked with clay at its NE end. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 899. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 29 July 2013