County: Antrim Site name: CLOUGHORR
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: Mr. Alan Harper, Historic Monuments Branch, Ministry of Finance
Site type: Souterrain
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 687433m, N 939682m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 55.196641, -6.626718
The existence of a souterrain at Cloughorr was discovered as a result of earthmoving to accommodate a caravan park. Only hurried investigation could take place because of the proximity of the bulldozer.
The souterrain was dry built of basalt field stones. The bulldozer had cut the souterrain in two. The southern part to which access was available averaged less than 1m in height and tapered to a creep the roof here being a further 15cm lower and the passage constricted to much less than its average 50-60cm width. Beyond the creep a chamber 120cm wide and 80cm high with an air vent opened out. The northern part was totally choked with occupation material. It proved to have been deliberately unroofed and filled in the ‘medieval’ period and a large portion of an everted rim medieval coarseware vessel was recovered. Souterrain ware was recovered elsewhere from the floor of the souterrain.
