Donaghmore Souterrain

Donaghmore Souterrain is a souterrain and National Monument located in County Louth, Ireland.[1][2]

Donaghmore Souterrain
Uaimh Thalún an Domhnaigh Mhóir
Chart of the souterrain, from Thomas Wright's Louthiana
Shown within Ireland
LocationDonaghmore Kilcurly, Dundalk,
County Louth, Ireland
RegionCastletown River Valley
Coordinates54.002939°N 6.459380°W / 54.002939; -6.459380
Typesouterrain
History
Materialstone
Foundedbetween AD 700 and 1200
CulturesGaelic Ireland
Site notes
ArchaeologistsEtienne Ryan
Conditionexcellent
Ownershipprivate
Public accessyes
Official nameDonaghmore Souterrain
Reference no.526

Location

Donaghmore Souterrain is located 3.6 km (2.2 mi) west of Dundalk, near a cluster of houses.[3][4]

History

Souterrains are cave-like structures built as places of refuge and storage, and in Ireland they date between the 8th and 12th centuries. [5]

The souterrain was discovered in 1960 during the construction of a Louth County Council cottage. It was excavated by Etienne Rynne who found trenches, a pit, two post-holes. sherds of souterrain ware, a bronze pin, a whetstone and iron slag.

Description

The souterrain at Donaghmore is a complex of tunnels lined with dry stone walls, floors and ceilings, with corbels and lintels. The ceilings are over 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in height and the total length of tunnel is 80 m (260 ft).[6][7] It is largely dug into boulder clay but also into Silurian grit.[8][9]

References
  1. Rynne, Etienne (1 January 1959). "Souterrain at Donaghmore, Co. Louth". Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society. 14 (3): 148–153. doi:10.2307/27728970. JSTOR 27728970.
  2. Edwards, Nancy (15 April 2013). The Archaeology of Early Medieval Ireland. Routledge. ISBN 9781135951429 – via Google Books.
  3. Weir, Anthony (1 January 1980). Early Ireland: a field guide. Blackstaff Press. ISBN 9780856402128 – via Google Books.
  4. Kennedy, Gerald Conan (1 May 1994). Ancient Ireland: the user's guide. Morrigan Books. ISBN 9780907677604 – via Google Books.
  5. "Rockart site and souterrain visits by Society - Independent.ie".
  6. "Donaghmore Souterrain".
  7. "Donaghmore - Souterrain".
  8. Weir, Anthony. "County Louth - selected monuments".
  9. "20915 « Excavations".
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