Souterrains, as these structures are known, are artificial underground chambers or tunnels built during the early medieval period, typically between the seventh and twelfth centuries. They were constructed from dry-stone walling and roofed with large capstones, and are found across Ireland in their hundreds, usually in association with ringforts or other settlement sites. Their precise function has long been debated; refrigeration of dairy produce, refuge during raids, and storage have all been proposed, and it is likely they served different purposes at different times. The one at Claremount is recorded as a monument of archaeological significance, placing it within a wider pattern of early medieval activity in the west of Ireland, where such underground features are not uncommon but rarely well publicised.