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Knock Ullinish is a souterrain situated in Inverness-shire in the Scottish Highlands. This underground stone structure dates to the Iron Age and represents a type of monument common across northern and eastern Scotland during the later prehistoric period. Souterrains served various functions for their communities, including storage, refuge, or ritual purposes, though their exact use remains debated among archaeologists.
The monument lies upon bedrock composed of mafic lava and tuff of Palaeogene age, volcanic rocks formed during the early Tertiary period some 60 million years ago. This substantial geological foundation would have provided stable conditions for the construction and preservation of the souterrain's stone-built passages and chambers. The surrounding landscape of Inverness-shire, shaped by glaciation and volcanic activity, offered both practical building materials and natural drainage essential for such underground works.
The site is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2139, recognising its significance as evidence of Iron Age settlement and engineering in the Highlands. The survival of souterrains like Knock Ullinish provides valuable insight into the technological capabilities and spatial organisation of prehistoric Highland communities.
Knock Ullinish, souterrain is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2139. View the official record →
Knock Ullinish is a souterrain situated in Inverness-shire in the Scottish Highlands. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2139.
Knock Ullinish, souterrain dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a souterrain. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Knock Ullinish, souterrain is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM2139.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Dun Beag, cairn 100m SSW of, Struan (0.6 km), Dun Beag, broch and surrounding structures, Struan, Skye (0.6 km), Dun Mor,fort,Struanmore (0.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Knock Ullinish, souterrain's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Knock Ullinish, souterrain stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.