Souterrain in Oldcastle

In tillage, on a break, on an undulating SSW-facing slope above Oldcastle Wood and the Dripsey River. Discovered in 2008 when a rectangular opening (1.73m x 1.5m), the result of a surface collapse, gave access to a rectangular stone-built chamber (L 2.5m; Wth 0.74m; min. H 0.93m at NW end; long axis NW-SE), roofed with lintels. The roof of the chamber, 0.7m below ground level, collapsed inwards leaving an opening (L 1.08m; max. Wth 0.67m). One collapsed lintel (0.62m x 0.6m; T 0.1m) is visible in the chamber, the others are probably covered by collapsed soil. Two other in situ lintels, both cracked, are visible at each end of the chamber. The chamber is lined with random rubble stonewalling with slight corbelling of the upper courses along the SW wall. The walling at the NE side is mainly obscured by earth that has fallen in from above. The floor of the chamber is covered by compacted collapsed earth. There is a creepway in each end wall, each constructed of two upright slabs and roofed by a single lintel. The NW creepway (L 0.4m; Wth 0.36m; H 0.47m) leads into a possible second linear stone-lined chamber (min. L 1.2m) or entrance passage, roofed by lintels. The chamber/passage is blocked by earth and stones either from a previous collapse or the result of backfilling. The SE creepway (L 0.37m; Wth 0.37m; H 0.28m) also leads into a blocked-up chamber that appears to be stone lined. There were no visible remains of any associated rath. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009