Dundee, Camperdown
Souterrain (Prehistoric), Stone (Period Unknown)
Site Name Dundee, Camperdown
Classification Souterrain (Prehistoric), Stone (Period Unknown)
Canmore ID 31966
Site Number NO33SE 6
NGR NO 3547 3292
NGR Description NO 3547 3292 and NO 3546 3287
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/31966
- Council Dundee, City Of
- Parish Dundee (Dundee, City Of)
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District City Of Dundee
- Former County Angus
NO33SE 6 3547 3292 and 3536 3287.
(NO 3547 3292) Souterrain (NR) (site of)
(NO 3536 3287) Stone (NAT)
OS 1:10,000 map, (1975)
This souterrain, the site of which is correctly shown by the OS, was discovered late in the 18th century, probably within ten or a dozen years of 1775. Nothing is now visible above ground, but the site may be easily found. Its centre seems to be just off the crest of a low rounded knoll, as is usual with souterrains, and it is clear that structures of some kind still remain underground.
The basic account is that given by the Statistical Account (OSA 1794), later references being taken from it and adding nothing. A fairly full description of the souterrain is given; it seems to have consisted of several compartments, or so it was thought, but it is difficult to get a clear picture of what its plan was like. Several features, characteristic of souterrain construction are, however, mentioned.
The OSA records that the souterrain was "filled with a rich black mould", a not unusual description of the filling of a souterrain, which, in cases where the roof remained in position, probably results from the gradual trickle of dust and fine earth into the structure. "Some burnt matter, several fragments of bones, and some querns about 14" in diameter" were also found. (The Ordnance Survey Name Book {ONB 1857} adds that small pieces of silver, intended either for money of ornaments, were also found, and one of the querns is kept at Camperdown House). Before the souterrain was closed up, the OSA asserts that it was minutely surveyed by Sir David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes, but no plan is known to have been published, and there is no record of any drawing or notes among the Dalrymple papers (Wainwright 1963).
Dalgetty notes that the parallel scored lines on one side of the adjacent stone indicate that it is an erratic.
OSA 1794; Name Book 1857; A B Dalgetty 1940; F T Wainwright 1963.
No trace of the souterrain was seen when visited in 1958, and it was agreed that the adjacent stone was an erratic.
Visited by OS (J L D) 18 April 1975.
