Souterrain in Marshes Upper

The following description is derived from both the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986) and the 'Archaeological Survey of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1991). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 July 2007 Excavated by M. Gowen in 1982. The site consisted of an enclosure (LH007-140----) (diam. c. 60m) within which were two souterrains, the second of which was cut by the enclosure ditch and must pre-date it. The first souterrain (LH007-085----) was roughly S-shaped in plan, consisting of a passage (L 22.5m, Wth 1-1.4m, H 1.7m) running E from the original rock-cut ramp entrance, then turning N and terminating at the E end in a sub-rectangular chamber (L 12.5m) aligned E-W. There were a pair of door slots in the walls at the junction of the passage and chamber. The second souterrain (LH007-086----) had a rock-cut ramp entrance 3m S of the entrance to the first souterrain, and consisted of a passage (L 24m, Wth 1-1.1m, H 1.2m) running SSW, with a slight terminal bulge forming a chamber at the SSW end. There was a trap 3.4m from the entrance at the NE end.