Cos Ceumach

NC90NW 3 9186 0765.

(NC 9186 0765) Cos Ceumach (NAT) Earth house (NR)

OS 6"map, (1964)

This earth house was examined by Simpson in 1864. The entrance passage opened on the steep bank of the burn about 4ft from the top. It was composed of dry-stone walling and was 2ft square diminishing in height after a distance of 7ft to 18 inches. Beyond this were two chambers, one behind the other, separated by a wall 2ft high. Runic letters are cut on one of the stones "which was removed to Kintradwell". The inner chamber, which was filled with midden material, terminated at a flight of seven steps leading upwards.

In 1909, when the RCAHMS visited the site, only the end chamber was accessible. It was 5ft high, 4ft broad and 10ft long. The Runic stone had been lost.

The RCAHMS (1911) follows the New Statistical Account (NSA 1845) in naming the earth house "Coshgeavag", while the J MacKay (1894) though naming it "Cosh-ceavaig", suggest that it should properly be "Cos-camhaig". All forms may be translated as "the cave of small caves". NSA (writteb by Rev D Ross) 1845; J Y Simpson 1865; J MacKay 1894; RCAHMS 1911.

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (W D J) 4 April 1962.

All that can be seen of this souterrain is the entrance passage for about 2.0m; the chambers are no longer accessible but depressions immediately to the W of the entrance and about 10.0m to the NW probably indicate the position of a collapsed chamber and second entrance.

The vague turf-covered footings of a sub-rectangular structure measuring 8.0m by 6.0m occur over the earth house, with which it is possibly contemporary.

The conflict regarding the correct spelling of the name cannot be resolved locally.

Visited by OS (J B) 8 December 1975.

A fusiform bead, 0.5 ins long, of streaky, opague light blue glass was found near the souterrain and was presented to Dunrobin Museum by Major Houston (Accession no: 1880.9).

Information contained in TS of Catalogue of Dunrobin Museum, by A S Henshall.