Souterrain in Urlar

Located at the SW end of a broad, low natural flat-topped rise, which is defined by a gently slope on its S side. To S there is an expanse of level ground; to N ground rises steadily to the foot of the steep, looming S-facing slopes of Ben Bulben and King’s Mountain. This souterrain is not indicated on the 1836-7 and 1940-1OS 6-inch maps, and there was no local tradition of a souterrain here. It was discovered in June 2018 when a roof lintel was displaced during shallow drainage ploughing. The souterrain is of drystone construction, with earthen floors. It has walls of medium to large-sized sandstone rubble, both rounded and angular in form, with massive, subrectangular slabs forming the roof. It is L-shaped in plan, consisting of a chamber on a roughly E-W axis, at the W end of which there is a creepway leading to a second chamber, which extends to N. The full extent of the souterrain is unknown, as there is a blockage at the E end of the E-W chamber: the souterrain appears to have extended further to E, and the original entrance must have been at that end. Current access is at the W end of the E−W chamber (chamber 1), through a breach (0.88m by 0.80m) in the roof, created by the displacement of the roof lintel. Chamber I (L c. 4.2m E−W, to collapse; Wth 1.1-1.2m; H 1.5m) is oblong in plan, with gently rounded corners at its W end. The E end is concealed behind a heap of collapsed soil and large stones: this collapse happened at some unknown time in the past, and is unrelated to the most recent disturbance. The side walls have 10-12 rough courses, and incline gently inwards at top, with the uppermost course overhanging slightly to support a row of massive roof lintels, eight of which are visible. A rectangular, lintelled recess or cupboard (Wth 0.43m; H 0.28m; D 0.45m) is built into the N wall, 1m E of the W end of the chamber, at a height of 0.5m above the floor. The sides of the recess are each faced with two courses of two stones each, and it is roofed with two lintels. The floor of the recess is of stone, and the back wall is earthen. At the W end of the N wall of chamber 1, at floor level, there is a low, square lintelled opening (Wth 0.52m; H 0.5m) into a short creepway (L 0.9-1m), which leads into the SW corner of chamber 2. The creepway is narrow and straight-sided for a length of 0.6m, but rises in height to 0.68m and expands in width to c. 1m at its opening into chamber 2. A stepped arrangement of the two roofing slabs creates the rise in height, and the expansion in width is achieved by a gently splay of the E wall, so that is merges in a smooth continuous curve with the SE wall of chamber 2. Chamber 2 (2.75m N−S; 1.9m E−W; H 1.55m) is roughly oval in plan, with gently rounded corners. The basal course of the walls incorporates several very large stones, including a number of roughly triangular-shaped boulders, the most prominent of which is at the NE end of the chamber. The walls incline inwards, with a pronounced overhang of the upper 2-3 courses. The uppermost course is composed of large slabs, which serve as corbels to support three massive roof lintels, around which are arranged a few smaller, auxiliary lintels. There is a rectangular recess (Wth 0.3m; H 0.21m; D 0.75m) towards the N end of the W wall, at a height of c. 1m above floor level. The N side of the recess is faced with a single stone, and the S side with two. A large slab roofs the front of the recess, with a smaller slab behind. The back wall is earthen. The souterrain is unenclosed; there is no evidence at ground level, nor is there any local tradition, of a rath or other enclosure here. Attached images: SL008-209----_01.JPG Chamber 1, W end, with recess and creepway just visible in the N wall (at R) SL008-209----_02.JPG Chamber 2, blockage at E end SL008-209----_03.JPG Recess in Chamber 1 SL008-209----_04.JPG Opening to creepway, viewed from Chamber 1 SL008-209----_05.JPG Opening to creepway, viewed from Chamber 2 SL008-209----_06.JPG Chamber 2, N end (This photo is courtesy of Ciaran McHugh, July 2018) SL008-209----_07.JPG Sketch plan and sections Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 22 July 2018