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Souterrains, 145m WNW and 115m WSW of Burnside Cottage, is a pair of underground stone-built passages located in Perthshire, Scotland. These structures sit upon Silurian to Devonian bedrock composed of mafic lava and tuff, ancient volcanic rocks that formed during the Devonian period. Such distinctive geology may have influenced settlement patterns in this landscape, though the souterrains themselves represent Iron Age construction traditions, typically dated between the 1st century BC and 1st century AD.
Souterrains are subterranean passage systems found throughout Iron Age Scotland, particularly in the east and north. Their precise original purpose remains debated by archaeologists, though they are often interpreted as storage facilities, refuges, or status symbols for Iron Age communities. The two passages at this Perthshire location, situated at discrete distances from the nearby cottage, may have served a single settlement or occupation phase.
The site is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6717, recognising its archaeological significance and contribution to understanding Iron Age settlement in the region. The volcanic bedrock of the area would have presented considerable practical challenges to those who excavated these passages by hand, making their construction a notable investment of labour and skill.
Souterrains, 145m WNW and 115m WSW of Burnside Cottage is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6717. View the official record →
Souterrains, 145m WNW and 115m WSW of Burnside Cottage, is a pair of underground stone-built passages located in Perthshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6717.
Souterrains, 145m WNW and 115m WSW of Burnside Cottage 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 SM6717.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Settlement, 130m NNE of Ballendrick House (4.3 km), Law of Dumbuils, fort (6 km), Carey, Roman temporary camp and enclosure, Abernethy (6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Souterrains, 145m WNW and 115m WSW of Burnside Cottage'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.
Souterrains, 145m WNW and 115m WSW of Burnside Cottage stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Silurian To Devonian, bedrock that formed in the Devonian. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.