Souterrain in Knockane (muskerry West By.)

In pasture, on the top of a hill with good views in all directions. This souterrain was discovered in 2002 when the ground collapsed spontaneously. The souterrain is earth-cut and consists of at least four chambers. The collapsed opening (1.6m x 0.83m) allowed access through the roof of Chamber 1 which is 0.96m below ground level. This chamber (1.85m ENE-WSW; 1.7m NNE-SSW) is oval in plan and the collapsed earth and stones from the roof occupy most of its floor space. Three creepways exit from chamber 1, at N, E and SSW, respectively. Creepway A (Wth 0.5m; H 0.3m) is semicircular in shape and leads into chamber 2. Access to chamber 2 was not possible due to a pile of collapsed earth and stone immediately behind the creepway. A small 'window' (Wth 0.23m; H 0.31m) c. 0.1m above the floor level and 0.45m E of Creepway A allows intervisibility between chambers 1 and 2. Creepway B (L 0.5m; Wth 0.45m; H 0.5m) leads into Chamber 4 (c. 6m NE-SW; c. 4m NW-SE) which was not entered. The floor of this chamber is scattered with stones and in its NE corner is creepway C, which presumably leads into another chamber. Creepway D (L 0.3m; Wth 0.58m; H 0.6m) leads SSW from chamber 1 into chamber 3 which is also blocked by collapsed material and was inaccessible. Its floor slopes down to the N. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009