Souterrain in Russagh

In the NW quadrant of a rath (CO141-143001-). This earth-cut souterrain was recorded in 1992. Access to the souterrain was via a large cutting which had been made some time previously and which may have destroyed one or more chambers of the souterrain. The access in 1992 was 2.7m below the surface of the rath where a creepway (L 0.6m; Wth 0.5m; H 0.47m) leads eastwards into chamber 1. This chamber (4.4m N-S; 1.45m E-W; H 1.2m) is roughly rectangular in plan. Its floor is surfaced with stone slabs and small boulders and it rises gradually towards the S. There is an alcove (Wth 0.7m; H 0.7m; D 1m) in the NW corner. A creepway (L 0.9m; Wth 0.5m; H 0.45m) in the S end of chamber 1 leads into chamber 2. This chamber (4m NE-SW; 1.25m NW-SE; H c. 0.96m) is also roughly rectangular but its NE end is wider (Wth 1.4m) and higher (H 1.15m) than elsewhere. The floor of chamber 2 slopes slightly up to the NE. In the corner between the NW and the NE sides of the chamber there is a narrow opening (L 1.6m) angled upwards and to the W. There is also a hole (diam. 0.15m) in the roof, with a loose slab above it, in the NE end of the chamber. There is an alcove (Wth 0.8m; H 0.7m; D 0.8m) in the corner between the NW and SW sides of the chamber. The corner between the SW and SE sides of the chamber opens into chamber 3 (2m NE-SW; 1m NW-SE). The floor of this chamber slopes up from SW to NE until it meets the roof. There is a blocked-up construction shaft (Wth 1m; H 0.5m) in the corner between the SE and SW sides. The cutting into this souterrain was still visible in 1999 in the NW quadrant of the rath, towards the inner edge of the bank. (pers. comm. Lee Snodgrass and Paddy O'Leary) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009