Archaeology Notes

Event ID 656168

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/656168

ND48NE 11 4586 8724

ND 4586 8724. 'The Brough' (OS 6" map, 1902) promontory, running NE-SW, has been enclosed on the landward side by a bank and ditch isolating an area c.60.0m x 14.0m. Erosion on the S shows that the bank (6.0m wide x 0.5m high) is composed of earth on a foundation of horizontally laid slabs. The ditch is 3.5m deep and its inner face has been revetted with dry stone walling.

Outside the bank and ditch are three hollows which are probably modern. Along the SE edge of the internal area are traces of dry-stone walling, which may be the remains of an enclosure wall around the promontory edge. Possibly a fort.

Surveyed at 1:2500 scale.

Visited by OS (IMT) 2 May 1973

Promontory fort.

R G Lamb 1980

Lamb describes this promontory fort as having 2 banks crossing the isthmus at the inner end with a series of banks and ditches outside. OS (IMT) describes 1 bank with a ditch some 10m distant.

Another interpretation is thus: an inner bank without ditch or apparent entrance. A second low bank 10m from it with a ditch immediately in front but considerably eroded on either side of a narrow rocky spine utilised as the approach. The N scarp of this ditch exposes drystone walling (OS (IMT)) and may have a counterscarp bank on its S side. The following 3 hollows (ditches with intervening banks according to Lamb) appear to be the result of erosion and landslip rather than forming part of the original defences, as there are no traces of ditches corresponding on the N side of the spine as would be expected (plan amended).

Visited by OS (JLD) 15 May 1981

ND 458 872 The Brough: promontory fort, prehistoric.

Sponsors: Historic Scotland, Orkney Archaeological Trust.

G Wilson and H Moore 1997.