The Culsh Earth House is an Iron Age souterrain near Tarland in Aberdeenshire. Built about 2000 years ago, at the time of Roman occupation in parts of Scotland, this particular earth house is beautifully intact and safe to enter.
You have to crouch or crawl to get in, though, the entrance being very low.
The ceiling gets higher as you progress, and you can finally stand up in the curved end of the passageway.
It’s dry and cool in the earth house, so the theory that these places were used for food storage may be correct. They would also be good for hiding in during times of conflict, and there’s room for a good few people in there. The smallness of the entrance would make it relatively easy to cover.
Or, of course, there could have been a spiritual or ritualistic use.
You certainly head into the light as you, crouching again, leave.
I loved the Culsh Earth House, resembling as it does, the time and some of the settings of Sisters at the Edge of the World. Short video below:
Ancient Battle and Forbidden Romance
From the misty hills of ancient Scotland emerges a tale of love, betrayal, and the fight for freedom. Join Morragh in SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD for an unforgettable journey.
Set in 1st century Scotland, the novel includes the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes. There’s a neurodivergent main character and some rather complicated romance.
“Ethereal and spellbinding…” Historical Novel Society
Read the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.
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The Performance: sometimes going home for Christmas is just one huge performance…
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Those ere great and very interesting.
They are quite intriguing places!
These are great structures Ailish, I had never heard of them before until we moved back to Scotland now, there’s a collapsed one at the end of our lane and an intact one just along the road 🙂
Have you looked at PeerTube for videos etc?
They’re fascinating places. How amazing to have two so close. I’m not familiar with PeerTube.
So intriguing!
I think so too 🙂
What an unusual location! I wondered if it was someone’s home, but there is no sign of a hearth or other features for daily use.
The archaeology suggests they were often near homes.
That is so incredibly cool!
It is!
Amazing! People lived in there? or just transit?
No, these were often near houses, but not dwellings themselves. The uses are debated: storage, refuge and ritual.
The Culsh Earth House is very impressive, Ailish. It kind of reminds me of an enemy base we took over in Vietnam. It was quite deep, with a hospital that had beds, five rows deep.
I didn’t know you were in Vietnam, Tim. What a place to find a hospital. This earth house might have been used in conflict too.
I volunteered for Vietnam, Ailish. Yes, the earth house could be decent protection.
Brave. 🙂
Thank you, Ailish.
Beautiful stone work. Amazing longevity. Buildings today are built to last only 50 years!
2000 years is pretty good going 🙂
Yes, I’ll say. They built things to last back then!