Culsh Earth House is an example of a souterrain built about 2,000 years ago, and despite its name, it was not a dwelling, but a stone-lined underground passage.
This example survives in a very complete state, and is one of only a few souterrains in Scotland that can safely be accessed. We don’t know what it was used for – potentially a hiding place, a storage space, or – as two cup-marked stones inside may indicate – it may have had some ritual significance.
Culsh Earth House was discovered and cleared of earth in 1853. Early excavations found two cup-marked stones built into the walls, a broken urn, ox bones, a quantity of smooth pebbles and a large bead. Considerable skill and labour would have gone into the creation of Culsh. It’s essentially a long, curving trench cut into the side of a hill, lined with drystone walls, now mortared.
Culsh probably held some ritual significance for the community who built it as indicated by the two cup-marked stones in the walls.
Opening Hours: Culsh Earth House is free to visit and open year-round.
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