Crichton Souterrain

About Crichton Souterrain

In a field near the village of Crichton is a hidden relic of the ancient world, a subterranean passageway known as a ‘souterrain’. Souterrains were common throughout north-east Scotland in lands controlled by the Picts and their predecessors, however, they are much rarer this far south.

Archaeologists aren’t certain about the exact function of souterrains. One likely use was as cool storage, equivalent to a modern cellar. They were not for defence – imagine running from an enemy straight into a dead-end tunnel! – but they may have had some ritual use as some of the deities worshipped by Iron Age peoples were communed with through underground chambers.

Some souterrains, such as Tealing Earth House near Dundee, have Neolithic rock art incorporated into their entrances. This art was already 3,000 years old by the time the souterrain was built. Was it added merely for decoration, or something more symbolic?

One stone in the ceiling of Crichton Souterrain bears a remarkable carving of a Pegasus. This was not carved by local Iron Age peoples, but by Roman invaders. Pegasus was used as the emblem of Legio II Augusta, who participated in the conquest of England and Wales in the 1st century AD and marched north with Emperor Septimius Severus into Caledonia on a punitive campaign between 208 to 210 AD. It was likely taken from the ruins of a Roman fort, possibly Trimontium or one of the smaller fortlets or road posts along Dere Street, and incorporated into the native souterrain.

NB: Postcodes are for approximate location. Use what3words: garage.also.hack or National Grid Reference: NT 4001 6191.