Brochs - Unique Scottish Prehistoric Architecture

Brochs - Unique Scottish Prehistoric Architecture
Theme - Archaeology Other themes: Scotland, Buildings
See also: Edin's Hall Broch - Micropedia Feature.

When we look at the wealth of prehistoric sites in the British Isles it comes as a shock to realise that we have only two completely unique forms of prehistoric architecture. One is, of course, the incredible site of Stonehenge, employing carefully worked megalithic lintels placed upon megalithic uprights. This is without parallel in the world.

The other is the Scottish Broch.

Dun Carloway Broch AR86	The broch is a free-standing and massively built circular tower, up to about 15 metres in height. It is characterised by hollow walls and a circular central enclosed area, and is built entirely by dry stone-walling methods. Amazingly more than 500 survive (most in much poorer repair than the Dun Carloway Broch shown opposite), and there were particularly high concentrations in the far northeast tip of Scotland, including the Orkney and Shetland Isles. Most of the remaining broch sites are in northwest Scotland, particularly Skye and the Outer Hebrides, and there are also small numbers in the southwest tip of Scotland close to Stranraer, and a few more north and south of the Firth of Forth.
But what were they for? While there seems little doubt that they were primarily defensive, questions remain about, for example, whether the hollow walls were used to house people, or for storing produce? Or were the courtyards for protecting livestock or people? Several brochs are located within settlements, so one might think that they were refuges during attack, rather like Iron Age bomb shelters.	Dun Beag Broch AR89
Dun Beag Broch AR88	Brochs were not huge constructions, so it is unlikey that they could have withstood a seige for a long period of time. "Guard cells" next to entrances plus the (usually) considerable outer wall heights suggest defence, while post holes found in the excavation of several brochs do suggest internal huts. However the literally rock-solid floor of Dun Beag Broch (opposite) would defeat almost anyone minded to dig a post hole!
Not all brochs were particularly high, and Edin's Hall Broch (opposite) was exceptionally wide and is believed to have been no more than about 2 metres in height. For more infromation on Edin's Hall Broch click on Edin's Hall Broch - Micropedia Feature.	Edin's Hall Broch AR48
Dun Carloway Broch AR84	Brochs seem to have been built by the original Celtic inhabitants of Scotland over a relatively short period in the Iron Age, from about 100 BC to 100 AD. They may well have been intended as defences against each other, though their geographic distribution on the periphery of Scotland suggests that their owners were being squeezed out. Or maybe these were just the lawless areas! However the Roman invasion during the "Broch Age" was probably a great unifying influence, allowing the natives to concentrate on a common enemy rather than each other, ultimately driving the Romans back past Hadrian's Wall - entirely outside of present day Scotland. Now Scotland's brochs command splendid Scottish wildernesses, and, in the cases of the famous ones, tourists!

Brochs Photo List:

Dun Beag (Skye): AR87, AR88, AR89, AR90, AR91
Dun Carloway (Lewis): AR84, AR85, AR86
Edin's Hall (Berwickshire): AR47, AR48, AR94, AR95

References: "Scotland BC" by Anna Ritchie 1988 - Fourth impression 1994, HMSO, ISBN 0-11-493427-4