Souterrain

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Souterrain (from French 'sous terrain', meaning 'under ground') is a name given by archaeologists to a type of underground structure associated with the Atlantic Iron Age. Regional names include earth houses, fogous and Pictish houses and they appear to have been brought northwards from Gaul during the late Iron age.

The name comes from the French language, in which it means "underground passageway". In languages other than English, it is sometimes used to mean 'basement', especially in warehouses.

Souterrains are underground galleries and in their early stages were always associated with a settlement. The galleries were dug out and then lined with stone slabs before being reburied. They do not appear to have been used for burial or ritual purposes and it has been suggested that they were food stores or hiding places during times of strife, although some of them would have had very obvious entrances. They may be connected with the same people who built brochs.

An example of an excavated Souterrain is the site at Rosal, Strathnaver, Sutherland. In this excavation no finds were made inside the structure and the roof may have been only partially covered with stones, a timber roof being present on part of it. It was suggested that the souterrain could have been used as a byre or barn and it was associated with an abandoned settlement.