Bruan
Broch (Iron Age)(Possible)
Site Name Bruan
Classification Broch (Iron Age)(Possible)
Alternative Name(s) Lat 218; Brouan 1
Canmore ID 8934
Site Number ND33NW 1
NGR ND 3102 3949
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/8934
- Council Highland
- Parish Latheron
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Caithness
- Former County Caithness
ND33NW 1 3102 3949
(ND 3102 3949) Broch (NR) (remains of)
OS 6" map, (1971)
A robbed broch represented by a turf-covered stony mound about 10ft high and 50ft in diameter, surrounded at a distance of about 31ft, by a wall about 4 1/2ft high which stands on the inner lip of a ditch about 28ft broad and 3 1/2ft deep from the top of the counterscarp. Except on the W, the ditch has been almost destroyed by cultivation.
RCAHMS 1911; R W Feachem 1963.
A broch, as described. The outer wall-face is visible in the S arc as a single, disconnected course of heavy stone. Ground disturbance and protruding upright slabs in the berm to the W of the broch indicate the presence of outbuildings. No name is known locally.
Resurveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (N K B), 3 May 1967.
Project (1980 - 1982)
Publication Account (2007)
ND33 1 BROUAN 1 (‘Bruan 1’)
ND/3102 3949
Possible broch in Latheron, Caithness, consisting of a conspicuous turf-covered, stony mound about 3.05m (10ft) high and 4.58m (50ft) in diameter (Illus. 7.079); the outer wall could be seen in the south arc as a single, disconnected course of heavy stones [1]. The broch mound appears to be sitting on a platform some 42m in diameter with a number of orthostats visible on its outer edge [4]. This has been surrounded by a ditch and a counterscarp bank which survive on north-west and north-east sides [4].
Sources: 1. NMRS site no. ND 33 NW 1: 2. RCAHMS 1911b, 52, no. 193: 3. Feachem 1963, 164: 4. Mercer 1985, no. WAR 113 and fig. 60.
E W MacKie 2007
Project (15 August 2017 - 18 August 2017)
ND 3102 3949, ND 0808 6824 (ND33NW 1, ND06NE 1) A fluxgate gradiometer survey and an earth resistance survey were carried out on two broch sites from 15–18 August 2017. The first site was at Bruan Broch, N of Lybster, and the second site at Thing’s Va, c2km W of Thurso. The survey formed part of the Caithness Broch Festival Archaeology Programme, which aims to provide the opportunity for the local community and visitors to the county to engage
with their local archaeology, whilst conducting significant archaeological research. The results of the geophysical survey provide a basis for subsequent archaeological fieldwalking and test-pitting at both sites from 13–16 October 2017.
At Bruan, c1ha of magnetometry survey was carried out around the broch, with subsequent targeted earth resistance survey over areas of potential interest. The magnetometry survey revealed the presence of several areas of interest, in particular possible settlement and buildings to the S of the broch. Several other possible structures were identified adjacent to this, which may be related. An area of increased magnetic response was revealed across the W area of the survey, while a cluster of features of possible archaeological origin was located c20m S of the A99 road. In the E of the survey area, the results showed less general enhancement, although a large anomaly may relate to the ditch around the broch. Rig and furrow cultivation remains were apparent
here. The targeted earth resistance survey results appear to correlate with the magnetic survey showing the presence of a possible structure to the S of the broch. Trial-trenching focused on the possible settlement areas to the S of the broch and all trenches revealed possible prehistoric structures and field soils containing post-medieval pottery.
At Thing’s Va, c1ha of gradiometer survey was carried out around the broch, again with subsequent targeted earth resistance survey over areas of potential interest. A further small area of magnetometry survey was carried out over a cairn in a field to the SE of the broch. The field was under crop at the time, with the cairn uncultivated. Within the scheduled area of the broch, the magnetometry survey showed the line of the extant bank as well as some indication of another extant earthwork on its SW side. An area of strong response was visible on the NE side, perhaps indicative of a burnt mound. Two possible structures were identified to the NE of the broch. The targeted earth resistance survey focused on an area to the NE of the broch. The results echoed those
from the magnetometry survey in showing the presence of the possible burnt mound, and suggestions of other possible structural remains in the E of the survey area. The results of gradiometer survey carried out over the nearby cairn suggests that this is likely to be a settlement site or a possible burnt mound. Two trial trenches to the E of the broch revealed no features of archaeological significance, while the third trench opened up over the adjacent cairn showed a possible structure of possible prehistoric date. Both broch sites would benefit from larger scale trenches to place the identified features into a wider context.
Archive: NRHE and Orkney SMR
Funder: Caithness Broch Project
Amanda Brend – ORCA and Archaeology Institute, UHI
(Source: DES, Volume 18)
Magnetometry (15 August 2017 - 18 August 2017)
ND 3102 3949, ND 0808 6824 (ND33NW 1, ND06NE 1) Magnetometry survey.
Archive: NRHE and Orkney SMR
Funder: Caithness Broch Project
Amanda Brend – ORCA and Archaeology Institute, UHI
(Source: DES, Volume 18)
Resistivity (15 August 2017 - 18 August 2017)
ND 3102 3949, ND 0808 6824 (ND33NW 1, ND06NE 1) Resistivity survey.
Archive: NRHE and Orkney SMR
Funder: Caithness Broch Project
Amanda Brend – ORCA and Archaeology Institute, UHI
(Source: DES, Volume 18)
