Fogou

{{Short description|Ancient dry-stone underground structures in Cornwall, England}} {{distinguish|text=Fougou, a town in Guinea, or fugu, a Japanese traditional delicacy}} {{Use British English|date=September 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}} [[Image:Carneuny.jpg|right|thumb|A view inside the fogou at Carn Euny in 1868.]] A '''fogou''' or '''fougou'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Fogou - Merriam Webster|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fogou}}</ref> (pronounced "foo-goo") is an underground, dry-stone structure found on Iron Age or Romano-British-defended settlement sites in Cornwall. The original purpose of a fogou is uncertain today. Colloquially called {{Lang|kw|vugs}}, {{Lang|kw|vows}}, {{Lang|kw|foggos}}, giant holts, or {{Lang|kw|fuggy}} holes in various dialects,<ref>{{cite web|title=Fogous - Order of Bards and Druids|url=http://www.druidry.org/library/fogous}}</ref> fogous have similarities with souterrains or earth-houses of northern Europe and particularly Scotland, including Orkney. Fewer than 15 confirmed fogous have been found.

==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 {{convert|5|ft|m|abbr=on}} wide and {{convert|6|ft|m|abbr=on}} 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.<ref name="Fox">Fox, Aileen (1973). ''South-West England 3500 BC – AD 600''. Pub. David & Charles. {{ISBN|0-7153-6209-7}}. p. 178.</ref>

==Function== It has been conjectured that they were made as refuges, or for religious purposes, or for food storage.<ref name="Fox"/>

Fogous' central locations inside settlements and the work that evidently went into constructing them indicates their importance to the community, but their original purpose is no longer known. Many are oriented southwest–northeast, with the opening facing the prevailing wind. Excavated examples at Halliggye, Carn Euny, and Boden suggest fogous may have been deliberately filled back in after use, or upon abandonment of the surrounding settlement.<ref name="Fox"/>

Iron-age ritual use seems unlikely, given the Celtic druids' known custom of worship in outdoor spaces open to the sky.<ref name="Edwards"/>

===Refuge hypothesis=== Currently, both documentary and subsequent archaeological evidence support their use as refuges, possibly to survive raids, as first suggested by Kenneth MacGregor (2004).<ref>{{cite book |last=MacGregor |first=Kenneth L. |year=2004 |title=A Re-examination of the Cornish Fogou |publisher=University of Edinburgh}}</ref>

Nancy Edwards wrote that "evidence would support this: Creeps, hidden chambers, and sally ports, as well as the fact that most souterrains were invisible above ground, would all have helped to provide protection in the case of sudden attack. They could, however, turn into death-traps if the aggression was prolonged."<ref name="Edwards">{{cite book |last=Edwards |first=Nancy |year=1996 |title=The Archaeology of Early Medieval Ireland |page=30 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0415220002 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nyW0oN8VjuQC&q=souterrain%7Cfougou+refuge%7Cdefensive&pg=PA30 |access-date=9 May 2017}}</ref>

===Cold storage hypothesis=== Although in their present damp condition, use for food storage seems impractical,<ref name="Edwards"/> Diodorus Siculus stated that Iron Age people in Britain stored their grain in "underground repositories", adding contemporary evidence{{Dubious|date=February 2012}} to speculation that their main purpose was food storage.<ref name="Fox"/> Where they were open at both ends, a fogou could provide suitable conditions for storing some foods, especially the drying of meat,{{Dubious|date=February 2014}} or storage of dairy products such as milk, butter, and cheese where natural moulds would assist in preservation of perishable foodstuffs.<ref>{{cite book |first=Jacqui |last=Wood |year=2001 |title=Prehistoric Cooking}}</ref>

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 in Scotland. A layer of black greasy mould with charcoal, animal and bird bones at Treveneague is also very suggestive of food storage.{{Cn|date=May 2021}}

==Etymology== The word may be related to the Cornish words {{lang|ang|fow}} (plural {{lang|ang|fowys}}) and/or {{lang|ang|gogow}} (plural {{lang|ang|gogowyow}}), both meaning "cave".<ref name=CornishDictionary>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cornishdictionary.org.uk/english-wordz?populate=cave |title=CornishDictionary.org.uk - "cave" |access-date=12 August 2018 |archive-date=12 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812214048/http://www.cornishdictionary.org.uk/english-wordz?populate=cave |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the past, locals in Cornwall have called them "fuggy-holes" but this term is seldom used today.<ref name="Meyn">Meyn Mamvro – ''Ancient stones and sacred sites in Cornwall.'' ISSN 0966-5897. pp. 20–21.</ref>

==History and archaeology== [[File:Petrosphere.jpg|thumb|A carved stone ball (petrosphere) found at Jock's Thorn farm in Kilmaurs, East Ayrshire, Scotland.]] One function of the souterrains of Gaul and early medieval Ireland is to hide in boltholes to escape detection by raiders. Fogous may have had a similar function to the underground kivas of the Puebloans.<ref name="Sharp">Sharp, Mick (1997). ''Holy Places of Celtic Britain.'' Pub. Blandford. {{ISBN|1-85079-315-8}}. p. 155.</ref>

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, Strathnaver, 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 barns.<ref name="PSAS">''Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland,'' 1967–68. Vol.100. Pps. 114–118</ref> Fogous are often associated with dwellings such as Iron Age villages.{{Cn|date=May 2021}}

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.{{Cn|date=May 2021}}

Two fogous have been excavated by ''Time Team'', Boleigh Fogou in Series 3 (1995) and Boden Vean in Series 21 (2021).<ref>{{Citation |title=TIME TEAM SIGNED BOOK AUCTION {{!}} Meet the inspiring group behind Cornish dig |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afImWLMPMx8 |language=en |access-date=2022-03-19}}</ref>

==Sites== thumb|200px|left|Inside the main chamber of Halliggye Fogou, Trelowarren, Cornwall Halliggye Fogou on the Trelowarren estate is generally accepted to be the largest<ref name=Cornovia>''Cornovia, Ancient Sites of Cornwall and Scilly'', Craig Weatherhill. Cornwall Books. {{ISBN|1-871060-31-1}}.</ref> and best surviving fogou.

Other unspoiled fogous survive at Carn Euny,<ref name="Bord">Bord, Janet and Colin. (1973) ''Mysterious Britain''. Pub. Garnstone. {{ISBN|0-85511-180-1}}. p. 105.</ref><ref name=Belerion>''Belerion, Ancient Sites of Land's End''. Craig Weatherhill. Alison Hodge {{ISBN|0-906720-01-X}}</ref> Boleigh Fogou near Lamorna,<ref name=Belerion/> Pendeen Vau<ref name=Belerion/> and Trewardreva near Constantine, the last of which is known locally<ref name="Hippisley Cox">Hippisley Coxe, Antony D. (1973). ''Haunted Britain.'' Pub. Hutchinson. {{ISBN|0-09-116540-7}}. p. 21.</ref> as Pixie's Hall or Piskey Hall.<ref name=Cornovia/>

Partially destroyed fogous exist at Chysauster,<ref name=Belerion/> 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<ref name=Belerion/> close to Pendeen.

Evidence of possible former fogous can be found at Porthmeor;<ref name=Belerion/> at Higher Bodinar; at Castallack and at Treveneague.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pastscape - Detailed Result: MONUMENT NO. 425010|url=http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=425010&sort=2&type=&rational=a&class1=None&period=43%7C410%7CROMAN%7C38%7C0&county=None&district=None&parish=None&place=Carn%20Euny&recordsperpage=10&source=text&rtype=&rnumber=|website=www.pastscape.org.uk}}</ref> Another was found during rescue excavations at Penhale Round<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083413/http://www.pastscape.org/monumentinfo.aspx?a=0&hob_id=430047 PastScape: Penhale Round, Cornwall]</ref> on the A30, the most easterly example, but this has since been destroyed.<ref>[http://www.earthhomesnow.com/fogous.htm Earth Homes Now: Fogous]</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|Cornwall}} * {{annotated link|Petrosomatoglyph}} symbolism * {{annotated link|Kiva}} * {{annotated link|Erdstall}} * {{annotated link|Castle Bloody}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography== * {{cite book | last = May | first = Jo | title = Fogou – A Journey into the Underworld | publisher = Gothic Image Publications | year = 1996 | isbn = 0-906362-34-2 }}

* {{cite book | last = Rowe | first = Toni-maree | title = Cornwall in prehistory | publisher = Tempus Publishing Limited | year = 2005 | pages = 127–132 | isbn = 0-7524-3440-3 }}

* {{cite book | last = Weatherhill | first = Craig | author-link = Craig Weatherhill | title = Cornovia – Ancient Sites of Cornwall & Scilly | publisher = Cornwall Books | year = 1985 | pages = 135 | isbn = 1-871060-31-1}}

* {{cite book | last = Weatherhill | first = Craig | author-link = Craig Weatherhill | title = Belerion – Ancient Sites of Land's End | publisher = Alison Hodge | year = 1981 | pages = 87 | isbn = 0-906720-01-X}}

* {{cite book | last = Cooke |first = Ian |title = Journey to the Stones – Mermaid to the Merrymaid |year = 1987 |pages = 160 |isbn = 0-9512371-1-X}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120312110327/http://www.pretanicworld.com/monuments.html Pretanic World – Chart of Neolithic, Bronze Age and Celtic Stone Structures] * [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/search.php?sitetype=20 Fogou site page search results] at [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/ The Megalithic Portal] * [http://www.old-maps.co.uk/ 1860 OS Maps] * A Researcher's Guide to Local History terminology * [https://archive.today/20071025033421/http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2298 Excavation of a fogou at The Lizard, Cornwall]

{{Man-made and man-related Subterranea}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Fogous Category:Agricultural buildings in Cornwall Category:Buildings and structures in Cornwall Category:Food storage Category:History of Cornwall Category:Iron Age Britain Category:Religion in Cornwall Category:Religion in Scotland Category:Types of monuments and memorials