Souterrain in Staigue

This souterrain, not marked on the OS maps, is located in the SE quadrant of a roughly circular field which is bounded on its W side by a stream. The site affords a restricted view of Kenmare Bay to S. The souterrain entranee faces SE and gives access to a small passage, ,9m wide and 1.5m high, which slopes downwards to N W for 1.95m. The passage, with sides of earth, is roofed by a series of overlapping lintels; small pad-stones are wedged beneath the lintels. There is a tunnelled creepway, .6m x .4m and .65m long, in the NW end-wall of the passage. An accumulation of stone beyond the creepway prevents access. Adjacent, in the SW side-wall, is a second tunnelled creepway, .44m x .7m and .25m long, which leads into a tunnelled chamber with a domed roof. The longer axis of the chamber is NE-SW, but a mound of earth directly inside the creepway prevents access. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 902. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 29 July 2013