Souterrains are over one thousand years old, and although they may have had some use for food storage, their main purpose was as a 'panic room'. At a time of feuding and viking raids, souterrains would allow people to shelter for a short period, while waiting for armed help to arrive, probably in response to a hastily lit beacon.

This photograph shows the large chamber reached by crawling 30 metres underground along a low narrow tunnel, which has several small side chambers from which unwelcome visitors could be easily speared.