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# Ballymoney Souterrain
Ballymoney souterrain is an early Christian underground stone-built structure located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Souterrains are characteristic features of early medieval settlement sites across Ireland and Scotland, typically comprising a series of stone-lined passages and chambers constructed at or below ground level. This example lies upon bedrock formed from Palaeogene mafic lavas and tuffs, which would have provided workable stone for the structure's construction. The monument is protected as a statutory scheduled monument under Historic Environment Division reference 1632.
The souterrain at Ballymoney dates to the early Christian period, when such underground structures served multiple functions within settlement complexes. Whether constructed for storage, refuge, ritual purposes or a combination of these roles remains characteristic of the interpretive challenges these monuments present. The survival of souterrains at the landscape surface often indicates the larger settlement sites with which they were once associated, though the full extent of any accompanying structures at Ballymoney is not established from current records.
The monument's preservation reflects the durability of stone-built construction and the distinctive geology of the site. Access and condition information should be obtained from the Historic Environment Division before any visit. The souterrain represents an important archaeological resource for understanding early Christian settlement patterns and building practices in early medieval Ireland.
Souterrain is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 1632. View the official record →
# Ballymoney Souterrain Ballymoney souterrain is an early Christian underground stone-built structure located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 1632.
Souterrain dates from the e.christ. period, and is classified as a souterrain. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Souterrain is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Ni. The official designation reference is 1632.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Kill old graveyard, kill graveyard. graveyard (0 km), Killagan fort. raised rath (0.5 km), Raised rath & annexe (1.2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Souterrain's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Souterrain stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.