Man-made underground passage in Bawntaaffe

The following description is derived from both the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986) and the 'Archaeological Survey of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1991). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 July 2007 Discovered during road-widening in 1959. Situated on lower W slopes of hill known as 'Pleasure Hill' or 'Cnoc an Oireachtais'. The Man-made underground passage consisted of three passages terminating in a beehive chamber. Located 57m N of Bawntaaffe B (LH021-053----). Passage 1 (L 4.1m) extended S-N, and was partially cut into the underlying bedrock, then built up with drystone walling and capped by lintels. Passage 2 (L 8.5m, Wth 0.9m, H 0.8m-1.4m) extended E-W from the N end of the first passage, gradually sloping downwards along its length. In the middle of the N wall of the passage was a recess (L 0.6m, Wth 0.6m, H 0.7m) with single boulder jambs and lintels which has been interpreted as a 'cubby hole'. At the W end of Passage 2 a drop-hole gave access to the third passage. Passage 3 extended W for 3m and then curved NW for 2m (Wth 0.7m at E, 1.3m at NW; H 0.9m at E, 1.5m at NW). At the NW end of the passage a narrow creep gave access to a beehive chamber (diam. 3.2m, H 1.5m). The Man-made underground passage was constructed throughout of drystone walling of local Silurian greywacke and was cut into bedrock to form the floor and basal course in places. This site was entirely removed following investigation. (CLAJ 1958, 96-102).