Fogou
A fogou or fougou[citation needed] (pronounced "foo-goo") is an underground, dry-stone structure found on Iron Age or Romano-British defended settlement sites in Cornwall. Fogous have similarities with souterrains or earth-houses of northern Europe and particularly Scotland including the Orkney Islands. Fewer than 15 confirmed fogous have been found.
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[edit] Construction
Fogous consist of a buried, usually corbelled stone wall, tapering at the top and capped by stone slabs. They were mainly constructed by excavating a sloping trench about 5 ft (1.5 m) wide and 6 ft (1.8 m) deep, lining it with drystone walling as stated, which was battered inwards and roofed with flat slabs; soil from excavation was heaped on top as at Pendeen Vau or incorporated in the rampart of the enclosure as at Halliggye Fogou, Trelowarren.[1]
[edit] Function
The purpose of a fogou is no longer known. It has been conjectured that they were used for religious purposes, as refuges, or for food storage. Many are oriented south-west-north-east, facing the prevailing wind.[1] Their central location in settlements and the work that evidently went into constructing them is indicative of their importance to the community, which gives credence to a religious or ceremonial function. In 2004, Kenneth Lyden, during his M.A dissertation, proposed a new use for Fogous, that of refuge during raiding trips. Before then this had not been considered. He continues his arguments that food storage is impractical due to the damp conditions, and he also examined the role of ritual usage. He discounts the role of Druids, as in Celtic tradition they focus more on the living world and were not involved with Standing stones, circles or Henges. He concludes that, although ritual use cannot be ruled out, it does become more unlikely.[2]
The word derives from the Celtic *ifócw, meaning "cave". In the past, locals in Cornwall have called them "fuggy-holes" but this term is seldom used today.[3] Being open at both ends, a fogou could provide ideal conditions for food storage, especially the drying of meat. Ashpits found at Trewardreva and in the circular side-chamber at Carn Euny were probably for preserving gulls eggs, as was done on Saint Kilda. A layer of black greasy mould with charcoal, animals and bird bones at Treveneague is also very suggestive of food storage. Diodorus Siculus stated that Iron Age people in Britain stored their grain in "underground repositories", adding contemporary evidence to the speculation that they were mainly used for food storage.[1] Excavated examples at Halliggye, Carn Euny and Boden suggest fogous may have been deliberately filled after use or upon abandonment of the associated settlements.
[edit] History & archaeology
Tacitus describes the Germans hollowing out underground caves, covering them with manure and using them as storehouses and refuges from winter frosts. He also claimed that they hid in their boltholes to escape detection by raiders, which is one function of the souterrains of Gaul and early medieval Ireland. Fogous may have had a similar function to the underground kivas of the Native Americans.[4]
Other underground structures such as "earth houses" or souterrains have some similarities with fogous. An example of an excavated souterrain is the site at Rosal, strath Naver, Sutherland. In this example 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 souterrains could have been used as byres or barns.[5] Fogous are often associated with dwellings such as Iron Age villages.
Petrospheres or "stone balls" have been found in souterrains and, as possible symbols of power within prehistoric society, this discovery suggest a use other than basic storage of food and resources.
[edit] Fogou sites
Halliggye Fogou on the Trelowarren estate is generally accepted to be the largest[6] and best surviving fogou. It is recommended by the Reader's Digest guide.[7] It is signed from the B3293 near Garras off the A3083. The site is open daily from April through to October. OSGB grid reference SW 17129,02395, Lat/Long 50.07162 N, 5.19749W
Other unspoiled fogous survive at Carn Euny;[8][9] Boleigh near Lamorna;[9] Pendeen[9] and at Trewardreva near Constantine, which is known locally[10] as Pixie's Hall or Piskey Hall.[6]
Partially destroyed fogous exist at Chysauster[9], which is in the care of English Heritage and which has been blocked up for safety; at Boden Vean near Manaccan and at Lower Boscaswell[9] close to Pendeen.
Evidence of possible former fogous can be found at Porthmeor;[9] at Higher Bodinar; at Castallack and at Treveneague. Another was found during rescue excavations at Penhale Round on the A30, the most easterly example, but this has since been destroyed.
One of the northern-most fogou sites is Castle Bloody on the island of Shapinsay in the Orkney Islands of Scotland.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Fox, Aileen (1973). South-West England 3500 BC - AD 600. Pub. David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-6209-7. P. 178.
- ^ Lyden. K "A re examination of the Cornish Fogou" University of Edinburgh 2004
- ^ Meyn Mamvro - Ancient stones and sacred sites in Cornwall. ISSN 0966-5897. P. 20 - 21.
- ^ Sharp, Mick (1997). Holy Places of Celtic Britain. Pub. Blandford. ISBN 1-85079-315-8. P. 155.
- ^ Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 1967-68. Vol.100. Pps. 114-118
- ^ a b Cornovia, Ancient Sites of Cornwall and Scilly, Craig Weatherhill. Cornwall Books. ISBN 1-871060-31-1.
- ^ The most amazing places to visit in Britain. (2006). The Reader's Digest Association. ISBN 0-276-44176-1. P. 14.
- ^ Bord, Janet and Colin. (1973) Mysterious Britain. Pub. Garnstone. ISBN 0-85511-1801. P. 105.
- ^ a b c d e f Belerion, Ancient Sites of Land's End. Craig Weatherhill. Alison Hodge ISBN 0-906720-01-X
- ^ Hippisley Coxe, Antony D. (1973). Haunted Britain. Pub. Hutchinson. ISBN 0-09-116540-7. P. 21.
- ^ C.Michael Hogan, Castle Bloody, The Megalithic Portal, ed. A. Burnham, November 6, 2007 [1]
[edit] See also
- Petrosomatoglyph Symbolism
- Kiva
[edit] Bibliography
- May, Jo (1996). Fogou - A Journey into the Underworld. Gothic Image Publications. ISBN 0-906362-34-2.
- Rowe, Toni-maree (2005). Cornwall in prehistory. Tempus Publishing Limited. pp. 127–132. ISBN 0-7524-3440-3.
- Weatherhill, Craig (1985). Cornovia - Ancient Sites of Cornwall & Scilly. Cornwall Books. pp. 135. ISBN 1-871060-31-1.
- Weatherhill, Craig (1981). Belerion - Ancient Sites of Land's End. Alison Hodge. pp. 87. ISBN 0-906720-01-X.
- Cooke, Ian (1987). Journey to the Stones - Mermaid to the Merrymaid. pp. 160. ISBN 0-9512371-1-X.
