Culzean Coves, Stable Caves System
Cave(S) (Period Unassigned), Wall (Period Unknown)
Site Name Culzean Coves, Stable Caves System
Classification Cave(S) (Period Unassigned), Wall (Period Unknown)
Alternative Name(s) Culzean Coves, East Caves; Culzean Castle Policies; Culzean Country Park
Canmore ID 214843
Site Number NS21SW 1.06
NGR NS 2337 1033
NGR Description Centred NS 2337 1033
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/214843
- Council South Ayrshire
- Parish Kirkoswald
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Kyle And Carrick
- Former County Ayrshire
NS21SW 1.06 centred 2337 1033
Scheduled with NS21SW 1.05 (centred NS 2238 1029) as Culzean Coves, caves.
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 4 March 2002.
Field Visit (5 April 2005 - 7 April 2005)
3 caves forming a complex covering 52m by 37m. Not as well understood as the Castle Caves but they also contain elements of masonry and significant and large archaeological deposits.
Laser Scanning (2006)
D Alexander (NTS), J Arthur (GUARD)
Laser scanning survey
NS 2369 1044 In order to get a better understanding and record of the cave system below the main castle at Culzean, a laser scanning survey was undertaken of the interior. Work was carried out using a Cyrax Laser Scanner and took four days. The exterior and interior of the tow main caverns were recorded and a point cloud of the data produced.
Sponsor: Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire, NTS
Trial Trench (3 June 2017 - 8 June 2017)
NS 2328 1029 and NS 2337 1033 Excavation work was conducted, 3–8 June 2017, in the Culzean Caves as part of a National Trust for Scotland Thistle Camp. The proposal had been to excavate four trenches within the Castle Caves (NS21SW1.05) and two within the Stables Caves (NS21SW1.06).
Trench 1 was excavated at the mouth of the Castles Cave and revealed the foundation of the stone wall that crosses the entrance. Trench 2 was not excavated. Trench 3 examined a small dry area on the S side of the lower chamber but bedrock was discovered only a few centimetres down. Trench 4 re-excavated the 1960s trench in the upper chamber and a detailed plan of the chamber was drawn.
Of the two trenches proposed for the Stables Cave only Trench 5 was excavated at the main NW-facing entrance. This revealed that there had been a walled entrance in this location. A section of wall 0.95m wide was found and it had a check for a door and a draw-bar hole. The wall survives to a depth of c1m and stands 8 courses high. A detailed plan of the interior of the Stables Cave was undertaken.
Archive: NTS, WoSAS and NRHE (intended)
Funder: National Trust for Scotland
Derek Alexander – National Trust for Scotland
(Source: DES, Volume 18)
Trial Trench (18 August 2018 - 25 August 2018)
NS 2328 1029 and NS 2337 1033 Excavation work was
conducted, 18–25 August 2018, in the Culzean Caves as
part of a National Trust for Scotland Thistle Camp. The
proposal had been to excavate four trenches within the Castle
Caves (NS21SW 1.05) and two within the Stables Caves
(NS21SW 1.06).
Trenches 1 and 4, in the Castle Caves were excavated last
year. In 2018 Trench 2 was excavated at the foot of the wall
below the latrine chute outside the cave wall. A small trench
0.5 x 0.5m was excavated down to a depth of 0.4m but only
modern material, including glass and plastic was recovered.
Of the two trenches proposed for the Stables Cave, only
Trench 5 was excavated in 2017 at the main NW-facing
entrance. This revealed that there had been a walled entrance
in this location. This trench was widened in 2018 to reveal
the full width of the doorway. This uncovered the southern
side of the doorway with a similar door check and drawbar
hole to the N side. The width of the entrance passage was
1.1m wide and it had several large irregular flagstones as a
floor. Artefacts recovered included pottery, glass and animal
bone. Within the interior of the Stables Cave Trench 6 was
positioned close to the back and measured 1.5 x 1.5m. Apart
from some modern material in the upper layers, the majority
of the 0.5m deep material removed from this trench was inwashed
beach sands and pebbles overlying basalt blocks of
collapsed roof.
Further detailed planning of the interior of the Stables Cave
and the base of the cliff was undertaken.
Archive: NTS and NRHE (intended)
Funder: National Trust for Scotland
Derek Alexander – The National Trust for Scotland
(Source: DES, Volume 19)