Souterrain in Oranhill (dunkellin By.)

In the NE quadrant of a rath (GA095-103----). This partially collapsed drystone-built souterrain (L >30m) consists of three chambers linked by two creeps that form a zig-zag arrangement on plan. Access is gained at three points, through gaps between the roof lintels of each chamber. The 1st chamber (L 6.7m) runs NNE-SSW. Only its NNE end (L 2.7m; Wth 1.6m; H 1.25m) remains intact. A blocked-up creep at the N end of the ESE wall would have accessed the 2nd chamber (L c. 8m; Wth 1.6m; H 1.55m), which runs WNW-ESE. A drop-hole creep (L .55m; Wht 0.7m; H 0.7m) extends off the S end of its ENE wall and leads to the 3rd chamber which runs ENE-WSW. Only the extreme SW end (L c. 2m) of this chamber is intact. A small wall recess is evident in the ESE wall close to its S end. A linear depression (L c. 10.2m; Wth 2.7m; D 0.8m) indicates that this chamber continued further to the ENE; the tops of the side walls of the chamber are evident in the sides of the depression. (Athy 1914, 133; McCaffrey 1952, 139, no. 7) Compiled by: Galway Archaeological Survey, UCG Date of upload: 14 December 2017