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Latitude: 56.3247 / 56°19'28"N
Longitude: -2.7225 / 2°43'21"W
OS Eastings: 355412
OS Northings: 714935
OS Grid: NO554149
Mapcode National: GBR 2V.5D9C
Mapcode Global: WH7S7.49T8
Entry Name: Kittock's Den, souterrain
Scheduled Date: 20 June 2002
Last Amended: 5 October 2021
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Source ID: SM10423
Schedule Class: Cultural
Category: Prehistoric domestic and defensive: souterrain, earth-house
Location: St Andrews and St Leonards
County: Fife
Electoral Ward: East Neuk and Landward
Traditional County: Fife
The monument comprises a partly rock-cut structure, obscured by dense vegetation gowing over it and by roof collapses in two places. Where the roof has collapsed there are two openings, through one of which can be seen the upper levels of irregular drystone masonry forming the chamber, and the roofing at the northern end of the chamber.
Here, the W wall consists of natural sandstone, presumably quarried to create the chamber, while three to four courses of drystone, slightly corbelled masonry form the E and N walls. The roof survives in only two places: a single slab spans the vault of the chamber between the two openings; while the final c.1.3m length of the chamber at the NW end is fully roofed.
The chamber measures at least 3.7m and is 1.7m wide at its first corbel. The surviving roof slabs measure c.0.5m by 0.5m and are c.0.15m thick. Collapsed roof slabs are visible within the SE half of the chamber. Soil and rotting vegetation have largely infilled the chamber through the two openings in the roof and it is not possible to determine the height or full ground-plan of the chamber.
The chamber is overlooked by an earthen slope on the SE and NE sides, standing some 1.8m above the roof level. It is possible that this depth of overburden may conceal further elements of the chamber (for example, side-chambers or a separate access passage), or other associated remains.
The scheduled area includes the souterrain and an area around it in which related remains may be expected to survive. It is circular in shape, with a maximum diameter of 20m, as marked in red on the accompanying map.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
The monument is of national importance as the remains of a well-preserved later prehistoric structure in lowland Scotland, where the majority of prehistoric monuments are largely ploughed away. Although the roof has partly collapsed, much of the sub-surface masonry survives and the monument retains the potential to provide important information relating to its construction and use.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Bibliography
RCAHMS records the monument as NO 51 SE 50.
Canmore
https://canmore.org.uk/site/34419/
HER/SMR Reference
N/A
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
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