Broch from Ayre
The Broch of Ayre , also known as St. Mary's Broch is an Iron Age Broch on the northern shore of Loch Ayre in the municipality Holm on the Orkney island of Mainland in Scotland .
The Ayre Broch was excavated in 1901 and 1909. The excavations revealed traces of internal architecture and external structures. Little has been preserved, although part of the brochure wall is there. The broch had an outside diameter of almost 18 meters and walls that were almost five meters thick in places.
The excavations
The excavation of 1901 showed that the Brochwand was still more than a meter high in parts and had an entrance facing south-east. The hallway had a broken lintel and the usual architectural features, including the guard cell. The interior contained radial partitions made of vertical stone slabs and a linteled fountain.
The 1909 excavation concerned exterior buildings that were likely added later. The interior of the brochure may have been partially rebuilt and used again at a later stage.
Archaeological finds
Several iron objects were discovered, including two spearheads and an ax . Information on the excavation is inaccurate, although it is stated that a spearhead was found associated with the guard cell. Nail heads were found, as well as pins and a ring made of bronze and evidence of metalworking and a lot of ceramics. Human bones have been found along with the remains of ox, horses , seals , red deer , sheep , pigs , whales , boobies and other birds. Combs, needles and whale bone vessels, which were found together with several dice, were made of bone or horn.
literature
- Patrick J. Ashmore: Orkney burials in the first millennium AD ', In J. Downes, A. Ritchie, A, Sea Change: Orkney and Northern Europe in the later Iron Age. Balgavies 2003, Angus. Pp. 38-39
- Ian Armit: Broch Building in Northern Scotland: The Context of Innovation. In: World Archeology. Vol. 21, No. 3 = Architectural Innovation, 1990, ISSN 0043-8243, pp. 435-445, JSTOR 124840.
- John W. Hedges: Bu, Gurness and the brochs of Orkney (= British Archaeological Reports. British series. 163-165). 3 volumes. Oxford, BAR 1987.
Web links
- Description Engl. and pictures
- Entry on Ayre's Broch in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland's database
Coordinates: 58 ° 53 '46.8 " N , 2 ° 55' 15.7" W.