Field Visit
Date 1999
Event ID 879524
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/879524
A massive grassy mound, 5m in height, marks the site of a broch. It surmounts a natural knoll, set within a marshy area between a small loch and the sea. Partial antiquarian investigations were carried out in the late 1800's, probably by Farrar, and the site was briefly noted by both Petrie and later by Dryden. The mound and surrounding platform, which are very overgrown, cover an area some 80m in diameter. Little of the actual broch structure is now visible, although some stonework is exposed to the north side of the mound. The scale of the mound strongly suggests the presence of extra-broch settlement; there are also indications of an surrounding enclosure bank. It should be noted that the waterlogged conditions in the local area may have important implications for the survival of organic materials within the archaeological deposits. Ref.: NSA (1845) Vol 15, 136; NMAS (1892) ' Catalogue of the National Museum of Antiquaries of Scotland' new ed., 228; Dryden, H (1879), 'Orkney and Shetland circles, broughs & etc: plans', Soc Antiq Scot Mss 170; Petrie, G (1890) 'Notice of the brochs or large round towers of Orkney' in Arch Scotica, 5 (1874-1890), 71-94; Petrie, G, Ms Notebook 9, Soc Antiq Scot Mss 554; RCAHMS (1946) #438; RCAHMS (1980) # 67; Hedges, J W (1987) 'Bu, Gurness and the brochs of Orkney' part 3, #43.
Coastal Zone Assessment Survey, 1999
