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Milton of Whitehouse is a Iron Age souterrain situated in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately 200 metres north-north-east of the farm of Whitehouse. The monument lies upon felsic igneous bedrock formed in the Early Devonian period, which provided sound geological foundations for the underground structure. As a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2972, the site represents an important example of Iron Age settlement infrastructure characteristic of northern Scotland.
Souterrains were subterranean stone-built structures constructed during the Iron Age, typically serving domestic or defensive purposes for contemporary communities. Their specific functions remain debated among archaeologists, though they may have housed storage facilities, provided refuge, or fulfilled ritual roles. The Milton of Whitehouse example reflects the building traditions and technological capabilities of Iron Age peoples inhabiting the Aberdeenshire region, demonstrating their ability to engineer durable underground chambers within the local geological conditions.
The monument's preservation and scheduling status ensure its protection for future research and public understanding of Iron Age settlement patterns in north-east Scotland. The underlying Devonian igneous geology would have presented both challenges and opportunities for its original constructors, who selected and shaped stone from the immediate landscape to create their subterranean works.
Milton of Whitehouse, souterrain 200m NNE of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2972. View the official record →
Milton of Whitehouse is a Iron Age souterrain situated in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately 200 metres north-north-east of the farm of Whitehouse. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2972.
Milton of Whitehouse, souterrain 200m NNE of 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.
Milton of Whitehouse, souterrain 200m NNE of 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 SM2972.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Knock Hill, hut circle 315m NNE of Fernyhowe (3.5 km), Ferny Howe, cairn 200m ESE of (3.6 km), Knock Hill cairn, 605m WSW of St John's Well (3.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Milton of Whitehouse, souterrain 200m NNE of'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.
Milton of Whitehouse, souterrain 200m NNE of stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Late Silurian To Early Devonian, bedrock that formed in the Early Devonian. The rock here is felsic-rock.