Mine

On a prominent rock scarp on the S slopes of Mt Gabriel, N of Schull reservoir. It is one of 31 copper mines belonging to Mount Gabriel Prehistoric mining complex (CO139-026001-). This isolated mine consists in a near-horizontal working driven 330° into the S-facing rock scarp. On inspection the Interior was dry, with substantial floor deposit; it was not excavated. It was accessible for a length of c. 2m; the entrance (Wth 1.55m; H 1.2m) was partly infilled and the mine's size increased towards the backwall (Wth 3.05m; H 1.5m). The sidewalls had a concave smooth surface characteristic of fire-set mines. The mine was noted to have an unusual profile, caused by local structural disturbance of the rock. A much eroded spoil dump was visible outside the entrance, where stone maul fragments were recovered; three slabs along the path leading up to the entrance may represent a deliberate revetment feature. (O'Brien 1987 and 1994, 344-5: mine 25) This is a National Monument in State Care. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992) and William O’Brien’s monograph ‘Mount Gabriel, Bronze Age mining in Ireland’ (Galway: Galway University Press, 1994). Photograph attached CO139-026004-_01: Interior of mine (in O'Brien 1994, 347) Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009