Broch from Brounaban
The Broch of Brounaban ( English Brounaban Broch ) is located between the Loch of Yarrows and the A99 at Borrowston in Caithness in Scotland . Brochs are only found in Scotland, originally tower-shaped, Iron Age drywall structures . The largest concentration with more than 200 of the approximately 700 known Scottish Brochs is in Caithness. The surrounding landscape is the eastern part of the Yarrows archaeological area, which includes nine other brochs within a radius of approximately 4.0 km.
description
The Brounaban Broch stands on flat ground, on a sandstone outcrop that provided the building material. The inner wall of the once more than 10 m high Broch survives to a height of almost one meter. The outside diameter was about 17.5 m, with a wall thickness of 4.4 m and an inside diameter of more than 8.6 m. The access passage in the east has none of the usual guard cells. Four intramural niches, each accessible from the center of the interior, lie in the north, west, south and north-east. The niches in the north and south have remains of stairs on one side that rise clockwise, with the northern staircase going over the niche in the northeast. In the south, the semi-niche facing the entrance is unusually long and almost reaches the passage. It seems that a new approach has also been created here, similar to the one in nearby Yarrows . However, most of the details in this brochure area have been obscured or lost today. The western niche is also no longer recognizable. A stone box with a skeleton was found in the Brounaban structure. As with many other brochs, this late grave may be part of a sealing ritual in the abandonment of the place.
Outdoor structures
One feature is the appearance of outbuildings in some Broch locations, particularly on Orkney . Obviously this does not exist at Brounaban's Broch, although a chamber was found in front of the southern entrance, which may have been used for burials. The plan shows a thickening of the inner wall just behind the entrance. This is similar to the one in Whitegate Broch on the shores of Sinclair Bay north of Wick .
literature
- G. Ritchie: Brochs of Scotland. Princes Risborough, Shire Archeology 1988, ISBN 0747803897 .
- Ian Armit: Broch Building in Northern Scotland: The Context of Innovation. World Archeology 21/3 (Architectural Innovation) 1990, pp. 435-445.
Web links
- Description Engl. Picture and sketch
- Description Engl. Pictures and map
- Entry on Brounaban's Broch in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland's database
- Entry on Brounaban's Broch in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland's database
Coordinates: 58 ° 22 '28.2 " N , 3 ° 9' 32.2" W.