What is recorded here

Ballycatten holds four stone chambers locked at right angles beneath a ringfort, their narrow entrance sloping into darkness like a breath held underground. People filled the rooms with soil and stones in medieval times, perhaps to bury memory or stop others entering. A wall brad, spindle whorl and perforated slates still lie there, waiting for the hand that dropped them.

In ringfort (CO124-034001-); one of three Man-made underground passages (CO124-034003-; CO124-034004-) discovered during excavation (Ó Ríordáin and Hartnett 1943, 13-7). Four subrectangular, stone-built chambers at right angles to each other; construction trench rock-cut. Entrance passage (L 1.82m; Wth 0.6m) slopes down to chamber 1 (L 3.65m; Wth 1.31m H 1.21m). Dimensions of other chambers similar to chamber 1; walls remain to height of 1.2m. Creepway from chamber 3 to chamber 4 roofed with two lintels, otherwise roof missing. Chambers filled with humus and stones which exacvators suggest was done deliberately, not earlier than medieval times. Finds: wall brad, spindle whorl, perforated slates, 16th and early 17th century pottery and a quantity of seeds. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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