Souterrain in Randalstown

Situated on rise in a fairly level landscape. A souterrain was discovered in topsoil stripping (E000309) by K. Campbell on the site of a mining development and was completely excavated (excavations.ie 1985:044) during 1985. It consisted of an undifferntiated passage (L 13.4m; max. Wth 1.2m) extending S (max. D 2m) and curving a little to the E that had only one surviving lintel. Two post-holes marked the entrance to the end-chamber (dims 5.4m N-S; Wth 1.2m) and another post-hole was in the centre of its floor space. There were two pits in the floor, one of which contained the bones of birds and a cat. An occupation deposit contained bones of cattle, sheep and pig, and the point of a bone pin. The backfill contained some sherds of Leinster cooking ware. Outside the entrance to the souterrain was a possible hearth surrounded by some post-holes creating a rectangular house (dims c. 6m E-W; c. 3m N-S) with two associated gullies, one running W and the other extending NW and then N and E. The house had opposing doorways (Wth 1.2m) marked by post-holes and there were eighteen pits on the surface, some within the house. Although there was a ditch (Wth of top 2.75m; D 1.45m) c. 15m NE of the souterrain entrance, it is not certain if it enclosed the house and souterrain. (Campbell 1985) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 10 July 2007 Revised: 27 March 2023 Campbell, K. 1985 Summary Report on Archaeological Excavations at Randalstown, Co. Meath. Licence: E000309. Unpublished report, Author