Souterrain in Gallaras

During the removal of a field fence in 1979 a souterrain was discovered and subsequently inspected by Kelly (1982-3, 11); it is no longer visible. The opening made by the mechanical excavator was insufficient for access and part of the wall of the chamber had to be removed manually. The souterrain consisted of an oval chamber with a low, narrow passage leading NNE from its NW corner. The drystone chamber walls, which inclined slightly, were built on a foundation course of large blocks. At floor level the chamber measured c. 1.7m long E-W and 1m wide, and it was roofed by 2 slabs .9m above the floor. A deposit of coarse silt, up to .12m thick, was excavated from the chamber floor and scattered through it was a quantity of charcoal. Two upright slabs formed the passage walls where they met the chamber, but beyond this the walls appear to have been of drystone construction roofed with slabs. The passage was c. 0.46m wide, .6m high and completely blocked by collapse after a length of c. 1m. Though there are no surface indications of any associated monument, the curving outline of the field boundary at this point (2nd edition OS map) may indicate the former existence of an ancient enclosure. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 764. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013