Description

The monument consists of the remains of an Iron Age broch situated on a small hillock within an arable field at just under 60m OD. The monument was first scheduled in 1962, when an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present scheduling rectifies this.

The monument is visible today as a grassed-over mound around 3.5m in height, oval on plan with overall dimensions of 50m N-S by 40m transversely. The part of the monument representing the remains of the original broch tower is circular, approximately 19m in diameter. This is situated upon a much larger mound/platform, possibly indicating the remains of outworks or a bank around the main broch tower. On the NE of the mound is an area that has been quarried and subsequently filled with rubble.

The area to be scheduled is circular on plan, 80m in diameter. This includes the features described and an area within which evidence relating to their occupation and abandonment might be expected to survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

This monument is of national importance as the remains of an Iron Age broch, being of the 'mound-on-mount' type familiar in Caithness. The monument has considerable potential to provide information on the nature of settlement and defensive architecture during this period of prehistory.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

The site is recorded by RCAHMS as ND16SW 10.

References:

Graham A 1949, 'Some observations on the brochs', PROC SOC ANTIQ SCOT 81, 95.

RCAHMS 1911, THIRD REPORT AND INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS AND CONSTRUCTIONS IN THE COUNTY OF CAITHNESS, Edinburgh: HMSO, 34, No. 110.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland