REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1906 39 



Coupar-Angus, Forfarshire, which was covered with large 

 rough stones, and lined in the bottom with clay, its narrow 

 entry pointing North-West. The Crichton souterrain, which 

 was discovered in 1869, is entered also from the North-West, 

 though the original entrance is now closed. Access is obtained 

 from the East by a subsidiary passage which stands at right 

 angles to the principal chambei*, two portions of which have 

 been renewed by the proprietor, and are represented by 

 archways supporting the soil above. In making one's way 

 thither, it is necessary to crouch beneath the tunnel, but 

 on gaining the open space within ample head-room is at 

 once obtained. The sides of the dwelling are lined with 

 stones, on several of which may be seen traces of workman- 

 ship, to which reference was made in a notice by Lord 

 Eosehill at the time of their discovery: — "The most remark- 

 able feature is that the inner walls are studded here and 

 there, especially near the top, with squared and chiselled 

 stones, showing the diagonal and diamond markings peculiar 

 to Eoman workmanship " ; and towards the close of his paper 

 he offers some suggestions as to the probable age of the 

 building: — "The Eoman stones place it at once as not earlier 

 than A.D. 80, when Agricola first advanced as far North 

 as the plains of Lothian. It remains, therefore, to be decided, 

 whether this chamber was built during one of those periods 

 when the Caledonians had for the time become re-possessed 

 of their land, or after the Eomans had evacuated the country 

 North of Hadrian's wall. In the latter case it seems strange 

 that the aborigines should return to their dark, rude and 

 underground dwellings, when, as in this instance, they were 

 almost in sight of the comparative luxury of a Eoman 

 settlement such as Inveresk, boasting of its baths, theatre 

 and villas."* The building is an irregular segment of a 

 circle, curving in a South-Easterly direction, and covering a 

 space between 50 and 60 feet in length, and from 5 to 10 feet 

 in width. It is in a good state of preservation. When all 

 had examined it, the party returned in Indian file to the 

 carriages, doing as little damage as possible to the standing 

 corn, and through the President conveyed to Mr Pringle 



* Society of Antiqaaries of Scotland, Vol. viii., pp. 105-9, 



