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Field Visit
Date 1999
Event ID 639931
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/639931
On coast edge.
Part of a broch survives on the coast edge at the Point of Buryan; the remainder has been eroded away by the sea. Antiquarian investigations carried out in 1880 were briefly reported by Cursiter; at this time the structure had already been damaged by erosion and it was then estimated that up to 50% had been removed. The broch is estimated to have measured between 15m and 18m in diameter, with walls up to 3.96m thick. Remains are now visible in a coastal exposure some 80m in length and up to 1m in height. The upper part of the coastal section is covered by overhanging turf, while the base is obscured by a storm beach. The visible archaeology comprises both structural stone and substantial anthropogenic deposits. The inland extent of the remains was not inspected. A modern marker cairn has been built at the head of the banks, above the broch remains.
Coastal Zone Assessment Survey, 1999
Refs.: RCAHMS (1946) #437; Cursiter, J W (1923) 'The Orkney Brochs' PSAS, 57 (1922-23); RCAHMS (1980) #60; Hedges, J W (1987) 'Bu, Gurness and the Brochs of Orkney' part 3 #42.
