Constantine's Cave

Who doesn't like a good cave? Luckily Fife has quite a few of them and each is seeped in history. This one is no exception. It is called Constantine's Cave, also known as Black Cave, and is believed to the where Constantine the King of Picts died. It can be found next to the Crail Golfing Society in Balcomie near Crail.

Born in 836AD to Kenneth MacAlpin, the first King of Scots and Picts, he succeeded his uncle Domnall MacAlpin as Pictish King in 862AD. During Constantine's reign there were many Viking invasions and it was during one of these incursions by the Danes, that Constantine lost his life in 877AD.

The cave faces north and offers little protection from the elements on the exposed shores of the Fife Ness headland. However, during excavations traces of a mortar wall were found running across the mouth of the cave which shows that the cave was at one time walled and roofed.

The cave measure approximately 8m by 7m and is around 5m high. Evidence of 2nd century Roman Iron Age occupation have been found in the cave, as well as being used by Christians as a chapel or hermitage. The walls are carved with a series of crosses and what is thought to be representations of four legged animals, dating to about 800AD to 1000AD.

Bones of red deer, cattle, sheep, horse, rabbit and whale were found in the cave. Some of the bones had been made into implements. Crab, limpet, periwinkle and mussels were also found as expected.

Other little treasures found include part of a Roman glass bottle, parts of fine red pottery, fragments of Roman pottery from the Mediterranean or Africa. A whetstone and an iron nail were also discovered. This would have been part of a hearth for smelting ironstone.

The excavators think the cave was first inhabited around 2nd century based on their findings.

There are conflicting recordings of where Constantine was killed, some records have his death at Inverdovat near Newport-on-Tay, whilst others have his death here. Nevertheless, the cave is still a shrine to his life and those of the other Picts that died defending their land and people against the Viking raiders.

The Crail Golfing Society charge £1 to park in the non-golfers car park. You pay at the shop then head down the path next the the flags. At the end of the path turn left and you will see the cave.

Constantine's Cave is listed as a Scheduled Monument with Historic Environment Scotland.