Souterrain, Inchincummer, Co. Kerry

Co. Kerry |

Settlement Sites

Souterrain, Inchincummer, Co. Kerry

Beneath the townland of Inchincummer in County Kerry, an underground stone-lined passage waits in the dark.

A souterrain, to use the term common in Irish archaeology, is an artificial underground structure, typically built during the early medieval period, consisting of one or more chambers connected by low, narrow passages and roofed with large stone lintels. They are found in considerable numbers across Ireland, though their precise purpose is still debated: refuge from attack, cool storage for dairy produce, or some combination of both, depending on the site and the season.

The Inchincummer souterrain is recorded as a known monument, but detailed information about its dimensions, construction, condition, or the broader archaeological context of the townland remains unavailable in the public domain at present. Kerry as a county contains a notably dense concentration of early medieval remains, and souterrains in the region are often associated with ringforts, the circular enclosed farmsteads that characterised rural settlement in Ireland from roughly the fifth to the twelfth centuries. Whether the Inchincummer example sits within or adjacent to such a feature is not currently documented in accessible sources.

Rated 0 out of 5

Visitor Notes

Review type for post source and places source type not found
Added by
Picture of Pete F
Pete F
IrishHistory.com is passionate about helping people discover and connect with the rich stories of their local communities.
Please use the form below to submit any photos you may have of Souterrain, Inchincummer, Co. Kerry. We're happy to take any suggested edits you may have too. Please be advised it will take us some time to get to these submissions. Thank you.
Name
Email
Message
Upload images/documents
Maximum file size: 100 MB
If you'd like to add an image or a PDF please do it here.

Advertisement