Man-made underground passage in Roughgrove East

In tillage, on a S-facing slope. This Man-made underground passage was discovered in 2003 when a roof lintel was displaced during ploughing. It consists of three chambers. Chamber 1 (2.35m N-S; 1.55m E-W; H 1.2m), which is roughly circular in plan, was accessed through the S end of its roof where the lintel was displaced. While its base is rock-cut it is mainly stone-built with corbelled sides and was roofed with five lintels, one of which is now displaced. The ground level rises towards the NW end of the chamber to the original entrance (Wth 0.45m) which is now 0.7m above the present floor level and is blocked with soil. In the W wall of chamber 1 is a lintelled entrance (Wth 0.45m; H 0.6m) to chamber 2. Chamber 2 (2.6m E-W; 1.6m N-S; H 0.7m) is rock-cut and roughly D-shaped in plan. An air vent (Wth 0.4m) is evident in the SW corner. At the base of the S side of chamber 2 is a creepway (Wth 0.45m; H 0.35m) to chamber 3. Chamber 3 was inaccessible but could be viewed from chamber 2. It is mainly rock-cut apart from its E side-wall which is shared with chamber 1. (Hurley and Ronan 2004) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009