2022:476 - COOLDUFF, Kilmurry, Cork

During previous testing a souterrain was recorded within the access route to a proposed small housing development. A new entrance had to be arranged which would require test excavation. A new proposed route was chosen adjacent to a derelict bar—P.O’Regan’s—which is also listed on the NIAH, Ref. 20908311. Initially a remote camera was sent into the souterrain—CO083-055001—to ascertain its extent and how it was aligned

From within the initial chamber discovered, a c.3m-long creepway headed to the northwest and into a second earth-cut chamber. It was waterlogged but an alcove and a second creepway could be seen on the opposite, northern side. This second creepway was full of small rocks which, being beneath the local road, was probably discovered and back-filled sometime during roadworks.

Test excavation was then carried out over the route of the proposed new entrance c 18m east of the souterrain. A single trench c.30m north-south and up to 12m wide was excavated. C.0.3m of a mid-brown loam overlay a brown, stony boulder clay with ridges of bedrock. Five further trenches were excavated to the west at c.8m intervals to ensure there was no evidence for the souterrain in this area. A similar stratigraphy was recorded with further ridges of bedrock. No archaeology was found.