Souterrain in Cush

Souterrain in SE quadrant of ringfort (LI048-034028-) excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 102-3) between 1934-5, the results of which were described as follows; ‘At the centre of the fort was a hearth somewhat similar to that in Fort No. 2. A few feet north of this hearth and running eastwards was a series of flat stones which evidently formed the base of a wall that, near the eastern rampart of the fort, formed an approximate right angle by turning south wards. This latter portion of the wall, however, was of uneven stonework and not of slabs as was the northern arm. Its line was continued by another wall on a lower level which formed the one wall of the approach to the souterrain. This approach led from the centre of the fort and was cut from the solid rock in which were a series of six post-holes (A to F on plan) which gave evidence of a timber structure leading to the souterrain proper, while the walls already referred to suggested an overground building associated with the souterrain. The entrance to the latter was narrowed by a jutting out of the wall on the western side terminating in a well-shaped upright stone, rectangular in section, between which and the opposite wall the width was about 2 feet [0.6m]. From here a passage ran south wards for about 12 feet [3.65m] and terminated in a long passage running in both directions at right angles to it. At the point of junction there was a single step formed of a large slab, the level of the floor of the long passage being lower than that of the one by which it was approached. One arm of the long passage was about 18 feet [5.5m] in length and was unroofed. At its termination was a ventilation shaft which was built from the end wall just under the top and ran from there to the inner side of the fosse of the ring-fort on the south eastern side. The opposite arm of the long passage was unroofed for a distance of about 20 feet [6m] and here it turned so as to form an obtuse angle and was roofed for a distance of 9 feet [2.74m]. From this point the passage narrowed so as to become a stone-built and stone-roofed drain for a distance of 10 feet [3m], after which the stone work of the drain no longer continued, but the drain itself was found to go on so as to carry off water from the souterrain to the fosse of the ring-fort on the western side. We noticed over this unroofed portion of the drain a dark layer of charcoal which by its position suggested that a wooden instead of a stone covering had existed over this part of the drain. Several post-holes were found between the hearth at the centre of the fort and the southern part of the souterrain as well as some further portions of walls, but no complete house could be traced'. See attached plan and photo taken from Ó Ríordáin Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 14 September 2021