Fogou
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A fogou is an underground structure which is found in many Iron Age settlements in Cornwall. The purpose of a fogou is no longer known, and there is little evidence to suggest what it might have been. It has been conjectured that they were used as refuges, religious purposes, or for food storage. Their central location in settlements and the work which evidently went into constructing them is indicative of their importance, which may have been religious. Fogous consist of a buried, corbelled stone wall, tapering at the top and capped by stone slabs.
The word derives from the Celtic *ifócw, meaning a cave. Locals in Cornwall called them 'fuggy-holes' (Meyn Mamvro).
Fogous are known as souterrains elsewhere in the British Isles and in Brittany. 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 (Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1967-8). Fogous are often assocaited with dwellings such as Iron Age villages.
The fogou at Constantine in Cornwall, opposite Trewardreva, is called Pixie's Hall by the locals (Hippisley Coxe 1973). Other notable examples of unspoiled fogous are to be found at Carn Euny and Trelowarren in Cornwall, others include Boleigh, Boscawen un, Pendeen, Boden (Manaccan) and Piskey Hall (Trewardreva).
[edit] See Also
- Petrosomatoglyph Symbolism
[edit] References
- Hippisley Coxe, Antony D. (1973). Haunted Britain. Pub. Hutchinson. ISBN 0-09-116540-7. P. 21.
- May, Jo (1996). Fogou - A Journey into the Underworld. Gothic Image Publications. ISBN 0906362342.
- Meyn Mamvro - ancient stones and sacred sites in Cornwall. ISSN 0966-5897. p. 20-21.
- Rowe, Toni-maree (2005). Cornwall in prehistory. Tempus Publishing Limited, pp127-132. ISBN 0752434403.
- Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1967-68. Vol.100.Pps. 114-118
