An Iron Age round defended house, found mainly in the north and west of Scotland. Brochs have a tapering profile and thick, usually hollow dry stone walls which contain galleries, cells and a stairway, with guard cells at the entrance.
Related Terms
| Term |
Note |
| AISLED ROUNDHOUSE |
A circular or sub-circular dry-stone building with a series of upright single pillar stones set vertically around its inner wall-face, often capped by a lintel which rests on the wall-head. Use for WHEELHOUSE if these features are present. |
| CRANNOG |
An island, partly or wholly artificial, often formed by dumping timber, earth and stones and revetted with timber piles or a palisade. Built in a loch, wetland or estuary and dating from prehistory to medieval. |
| DUN |
A building or settlement enclosure with a thick drystone wall, generally circular or oval in plan, usually sited in an elevated position. |
| GALLERIED DUN |
A building or settlement enclosure, generally circular or oval in plan, with a double-skinned dry stone wall which often contains galleries and a stairway. Usually sited in an elevated position. |
| SOUTERRAIN |
A subterranean or partly subterranean chamber or passage. Often associated with an above ground structure. |
| WHEELHOUSE |
A variant form of roundhouse, in which the roof was supported by internal stone piers radially disposed. |
