Prehistoric Dwelling Places 95 



querors, one of which is represented by the advance of the Collas 

 in Ulster, were more advanced in civilization than their prede- 

 cessors, and that it is in the latter, the conquei-ed race, we can 

 trace the Souterrain dwellers, so many of whom were forced into 

 the North-East corner of Ireland, thus possibly explaining the 

 existence there, even to-day, of many hundreds, or even 

 thousands, of these dwellings surviving the havoc of vandalism 

 and agricultural improvement in the most intensively tilled part 

 of Ireland. 



Dr. Munro, one of the highest authorities on the archaeo- 

 logy, not only of Scotland but of Europe generally, informs me 

 Souterrains are frequently met with in the Eastern half of 

 Scotland as far South as the Forth, and to a lesser degree between 

 the Forth and the Tweed, but not in the Western half of Scot- 

 land. From the evidence of the remains found in the Scottish 

 Souterrains he clearly dates them as contemporary with, or 

 shortly after, the Roman occupation of Britain, and therefore 

 some\Ahat earlier than the similar dwellings in Ireland. From 

 these facts it is clear that they were of Pictish origin in Scotland, 

 this race in early semi historical times being confined to Eastern 

 Scotland, the Western half, prior to the immigration of the 

 Hiberno Celtic Scots in the 6th century being probably of a 

 different race, more akin to or permeated by Scandinavian in- 

 fluence or descent. Dr. Munro states that Souterrains are not 

 found in England or Wales, with the exception of the Duchy 

 of Cornwall, where exist a number apparently resembling in 

 characteristics those of the Co. Down type. This distribution 

 is worthy of note, and may possibly throw some light upon 

 the controversial question of the origin of the Picts of Scot- 

 land. Dr. Munro further states in his " Prehistoric Scot- 

 land " that Souterrains of the type prevalent in Ireland, East 

 Scotland and Cornwall are not met with elsewhere on the 

 Continent of Europe. On this point, however, I fancy Dr. Munro 

 may be mistaken, as I find in Mons. Dechelette's Manuel d'Archeo- 

 logie Prehistorique * a somewhat vague and bi'ief reference to 

 *Vol. I., pp. 559-60. 



