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Field Visit
Date 2 September 1930
Event ID 1125210
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1125210
Broch of Dalsetter, near Boddam. The remains of this broch (Fig. 479 [SC 1224200]) lie 50 yds. from the edge of a precipitous cliff at the N. side of the Voe, fully half a mile E. of Boddam and approximately 650 yds. E.S.E. of the farmhouse of Dalsetter. Directly opposite there rises from the sea an isolated mass of rock, which goes by the name of 'The Stack of the Brough'.
The main building has been almost entirely demolished, but a short length of the outer face of its wall is just recognisable among the scattered debris on the S. The site, however, is still remarkable for the surrounding defences, as well as for the extent of the area that has apparently been occupied by associated ‘out-buildings’. In the latter respect it resembles the site at Eastshore (HU41SW 4). The defences (Fig. 478), now best defined on the E., consist of two concentric rings of rampart, separated by a wide ditch and, respectively, 26 ft. and 53 ft. distant from the broch. They are composed mainly of earth, and rise to an average height of from 4 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. above the bottom of the ditch. The outer one measures from 12 to 15 ft. at the base, but the base of the inner one is obscured on the inside by the fallen material of the broch, many of the stones of which have been utilised for the construction of sheep-folds. Two wells just outside show that the question of a water supply can have presented no difficulty. On the other hand, there is no access to the sea within easy distance.
RCAHMS 1946, visited 2 September 1930.
OS 6" map, Shetland, 2nd ed.,(1903).
