Scotland in Pagan Times; The Iron AgeAnderson, Joseph
History
Scotland in Pagan Times; The Iron Age
Anderson, Joseph
Scotland -- Antiquities
Dunsinnane is the only Scottish hill-fort associated with underground
chambers. But there is a class of underground structures of peculiar
form which is common in Scotland, though unconnected with any variety of
defensive structure. They are mostly situated in arable land now under
cultivation, and have usually been discovered by the plough coming in
contact with the stones of the roof.
[Illustration: Fig. 252.—Ground plan and sections of Earth-house at
Broomhouse, parish of Edrom, Berwickshire.]
One was so discovered at Broomhouse in the parish of Edrom,
Berwickshire. It had been known before and most of the roofing stones
removed, but on this occasion it came under the observation of Mr.
Milne-Home, who communicated an account of it to the Society of
Antiquaries.[108] It is to such casual circumstances that we owe the
materials of our science. The structure presents the form (shown in the
ground plan, Fig. 252) of a long narrow gallery, entering by a low and
narrow aperture nearly on a level with the surface, widening and
deepening from the entrance inwards, turning first sharply to the left
and then to the right, and terminating in a closed and rounded end. The
opening (A) faced nearly to the south-east. The whole length of the
gallery, measured along the central line of the floor, was 30 feet, its
width at the entrance 2 feet, and at the widest part 6 feet. Only three
of the roofing stones (B,C,D) remained in position. The vertical height
of the walls at the widest part of the structure was 5 feet, and under
the roofing stone (B) next the entrance only 3 feet. It seemed as if the
floor had been paved with natural water-worn stones, but this point was
not clearly ascertained. At the second bend (D) there are checks for a
door, consisting of two oblong stones set on end and still carrying a
massive lintel. The side walls, from the entrance inwards to this inner
door, are vertical. In the wider part of the structure (E) beyond the
inner door they are brought towards each other by the stones overlapping
inwardly, so that the roof might be covered by single slabs laid across.
Nothing was found within it but fragments of bones of animals, among
which the roe-deer was the only one that could be certainly determined.
-----
Footnote 108:
_Ibid._, vol. viii. p. 20.
-----
[Illustration: Fig. 253.—Ground plan of Earth-house at Migvie,
Aberdeenshire. (From a plan by Mr. Jervise.)]
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