Broch by Bu
The excavations in the Broch of Bu (also called Bu of Cairston Broch ), but also in the Broch of Howe on Orkney in Scotland, helped to understand the origin of the Orcadian Brochs better than the earlier excavations of Gurness and Midhowe .
The excavation of Bu at Stromness revealed a structure approximately 9.1 m in internal diameter with a wall thickness of approximately 3.6 m originally, which was later enlarged to 5.2 m. There was no guard cell in the entrance . The inner area was filled with a large stove and a cooking area in the center. Outside, the space was divided by radial panels, which also helped to support the roof. This structuring roughly corresponds to that of round or wheelhouses .
The radiocarbon dates show that the Broch was built in 600 BC. BC and thus much earlier than was to be expected for such a structure. Even earlier data is available from the Quanterness Roundhouse . This underscores the length of construction experimentation on Orkney. A development from the roundhouse to the broch is also supported by the Howe excavation,
John W. Hedges identified 52 brochures on Orkney and analyzed 80. Only a few have double-walled walls. The additions have sometimes door locking and guard cells ( English guard-cells ). At least 10 Orkneybrochs have their own water supply ( wells in the Broch von Breckness ).
literature
- John W. Hedges: Bu, Gurness and the Brochs of Orkney. Volume 3: The Brochs of Orkney (= British Archaeological Reports. British series. 165). BAR, Oxford 1987, ISBN 0-86054-436-2 .
- JNG Ritchie: Brochs of Scotland . Princes Risborough, Shire Archeology secund edition 1998, ISBN 0-7478-0389-7 pp. 30-32, 41,42
Web links
- Exceptionally good video
- Description Engl.
- Image from the 1978 excavation
- Entry on Bu's Broch in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland's database
Coordinates: 58 ° 57 '54.6 " N , 3 ° 16" 17.3 " W.