Souterrain in Aghadown

In pasture, on a knoll on a steep S-facing slope overlooking Lough Marsh to the SE. This earth-cut souterrain was discovered by the landowner in 2007 when an opening appeared in the ground, following some clearance work on an adjacent field boundary that had been undertaken with machinery the previous day. The opening provided access to a small entrance chamber (1.8m E-W; 1.18m N-S; H 1.2m) the roof of which was 0.6m below the ground level of the field. This chamber narrowed towards its W end where a construction shaft opening (Wth 0.92m; H 0.75m), blocked with large stones, was visible. A creepway (H 0.43m; Wth 0.4m) on the S side of this chamber led into a second chamber (c. 1.6m N-S). This second chamber was larger than the entrance chamber, having a longer E-W axis. However, this measurement was not obtainable. There were two creepways in this second chamber: one at the SE and one at the W. The irregular-shaped creepway at the SE side of this chamber led into a third chamber. Material on the floor of the third chamber, immediately beyond the creepway area, appeared to contain some burnt material and two bones. This material was not inspected. The roughly oval-shaped creepway opening (Wth c. 0.7-0.8m) at the W side of the second chamber led into a fourth chamber which appeared to turn to the SW. It was not possible to inspect either the third or fourth chambers. Another souterrain (CO141-053----) is located on slightly higher ground, c. 270m to the NE. A six-chambered souterrain (CO141-098----) in the neighbouring townland of Loughmarsh was investigated in the early 1980s (Cleary 1981, 38-42). Some pig bones that showed butchering marks were found in one of the chambers in this latter souterrain. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009