IV. NOTICE OF EXCAVATIONS IN A BROCH AND ADJACENT TUMULI NEAR LEVENWICK THN I , E PAEIS DUNKOSSNESSF HO , ZETLAND. BY GILBERT GOUDIE, ESQ., F.S.A. SCOT. The surface of the Zetland Islands is dotted as closely as perhaps any are similaf ao r extenUnitee th n ti d Kingdom, with remain prehistorif so c times. Chiee brochs th f thes o d ftumule an ar e, f variouo i s kinds which have repeatedly been brought unde notice th r thif eo s Society. Though the brochs are very numerous, and have been the subject of much discussion, only two of them, so far as I am aware, have been systematically explored—that in the Loch of Clickirain, near Lerwick, bettee th d r an known Castl f Mousao e e M6seth , y jarbore Sagasth f o g. Within a few miles distance of the latter, on a desolate rocky sea-cliff, near Levenwick e paristh f n Dunrossnesso i h, s situatei , d another broch. Sir Eobert Sibbald, in his survey of the islands, published in 1711, mentions two broch thisin s placewordHis . s are,—" Sout southand h - west from Leven Week (a large mile distant), lie the ruins of two forts, built by the , upon a rock, close by the sea." largA e area adjacen s coverei t debrisa y b brokedf o n stone f greaso t size, strew remaine th n e e actio seat irregularlth th f bu ,so f y o nb f i s ya only one distinct building can now be traced. It does not appear to have been noticed in any published account I have seen since the time of visites r Henr wa Si n Sibbald185 i dt y i yb 5s t Drydenha bu , o wh , favoured me with a copy of his sketch of the ruin as it then appeared— a mere mound—and a ground plan shewing the and adjacent tumuli. (Both now submitted.) His measurements, though taken under disadvantages, agree closel (se n annexee ye th ow wit y hm d woodcut). NOTICE OF EXCAVATIONS IN A BROCH NEAR LEVENWICK. 213

appearancee Th ' formerly presente thiy db s broc masthaa s f f ho wa tso building material, 10 or 12 feet in height at the highest point, the course of the main circular wall being, however, distinctly discernible, especially on norte th h side, wher portioea outside th f no e exposeds fac walle wa Th ,. as shewn at this point, is of very solid masonry, composed of large stones, of nearly uniform size, seemingly unhewn t builbu , t with great regularity, and without any trace of lime or cement. Around are remains, seeming, at first sight, to be massive circumvallations, not very clearly denned, and trace thosof s e rude buildings, partly beneat surfachthe e level, whichare commonly attached to these northern biochs. My attentio beed nha n directe thio dt s ruin many years previouslyt bu , onls ywa t durini gshora t residenc neighbourhoode th n ei summee th n ,i r of 1869, that I had an opportunity of attempting its exploration. Fortunately undertakine th , g presente seriouo dn s difficulty objecty M . , in the first place, was merely to lay open the interior of the circle, by removing the mass of fallen stones which filled it. After a few days' labour, a large portion of the debris had been removed, and about three- fourths of the interior laid bare to the foundation, bringing to light e curiouth s internal arrangement e structurth f stata o s f n almosi eo t perfect preservation, except in so far as damaged, at the moment of demolition, by the sudden fall of material, and since then by the superin- cumbent pressure. The accompanying ground plan shows the position of these internal arrangements, consistin secona f go d wal "r o l scarcement, " abou feex si t t averagen a breadthn same i n th o ef entires d o ,heighta r an , fa , o linins , g the interior of the main wall, and from it, five walls, at irregular distances apart, projecting toward lengte e centrareae sth th Th f f .he o o these walls varies from 2|4|o t -- feet, leavin a gclea r central space, from 11o 0t 2 fee n diameteri t , between their opposit e northeth facesn -O . east sid thif eo s space, thre eedgen slabo t , sse formeo tw e bacd th d an k sides of what appeared to have been a fire-place (d in plan), with remains of ashes, or of soft dust-like sand. A portion of a quern was found among the debris, and fragments of bones, but no other remains. t wilI observede b l , that while these interna e samth lf e o wall e ar s general character as in similar buildings elsewhere, they are here more regular, more systemati n n bettedesigni i c d ran , preservation than 214 I'liOCKKDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , APRIL 10, 1871.

perhaps in any other broch that has been explored. The approach to uniformity, particularly in breadth, and also in apparent height, of the scarcement or inner wall, is also noteworthy. In most other brochs it is either narrower irregulaof or , r breadth intervalsAt . , betwee pronthe - jecting walls, it is pierced by openings (three in number), showing the com- mencement of built passages (a, b, c, in plan). It was impossible

Ground Plan of Broch of Levetiwick, Mainland, . e timeth traco t t ,a e these passage distancy an o t se inward t therbu , e seems little doubt that they lea o smalt d l chambers r storo , e holesd an , possibly also may communicate with other and larger chambers within the main walls wit or ,uppe hthe r galleries, which havdisappearedenow . The main wall of the tower, as already indicated, describes a circle, NOTICE OF EXCAVATIONS IN A BROCH NEAR LEVENWICK. 215

though not a perfect one. It is, as usual, a double wall, varying in combined s beenbreadthha feet6 d .1 intersectean ,,o t fro 2 a m1 y db staircase e loweth , r portion f whicho s , will probabl broughe yb ligho t t by further excavation. Some years ago, a few steps of it were discernible south-wese walle th th n f o ,o p tto side e ot thesnth bu , e havnearlw eno y disappeared. internae Th l diamete buildine th f o r g measure fees0 3 29t o (accordJt - r HenrSi in o gt y Dryden, 28J) eccentricite th , e walth lf e yo bein th n go outside, which bulges out to its greatest breadth (16 feet) on. the north- east, where it probably encloses a chamber or chambers of considerable dimensions. The highest point of the wall standing measures about 15 feet fro e foundatiomth n within. maie Th n entranc et ascertained fro ye -outsidee t mth no s t i ther bu , s ei an openin e interiore southth th o gt n , o side (1), e nea levee th th f r o l surface of the inner circular wall and projections already described. This cannot, however e originath e b , l entrance 8 fro r o m 6 without s i t i s a , feet abov e floorlevee th eth f .o l It may be a question whether or not these internal structures, above described, are of equal date with the main building. They are certainly of less solid masonry, but, on. any supposition that we can form as to their use, would imply no necessity for such massiveness as characterises the main walls. Adjacent to the broch are three or more long mounds, known by the common name of " The Giants' Graves." I had early wished to have these mounds opened, as much for the sake of the light they might possibl ye peopl throth o constructe n wh wo e e adjoininth d g tower (assumin . possibla g e connection from their juxtaposition)e th r fo s a , interest of the mounds themselves. I revisited the spot in the summer of 1870, and endeavoured to make the beginning of an excavation, com- mencing with the mound nearest to the broch towards the south-west, which was both higher and longer than its neighbour further south; we starte n openina e dnort th n ho g side, abou fee0 2 t t fro e eastermth n extremity, and finding nothing, began a similar digging on the opposite or south diggine sideTh . g shewe moune dcovereth e b o dt d with, earth to a depth of 6 OT 8 inches, underneath being, first, a bed of small stones, apparently not burnt, about a foot in depth, and second, a layer of clay, - 216TliOCEEDING. SOCIETYE TH F SO , APKI , 1871L10 .

carefully prepared, about 6 inches thick. These successive layers were o soonen ra ston passef o e d walld en tha e , nth crossin e tumulusth g , appeared e eart botTh n ho . h sides being carefully removed well-buila , t wall, face botn o d h sides s exposedwa , t I measure. d about 6J feen i t lengt abouy hb t equal heigh centree th n highess ti ,it t point 1d 8 ,an inche s thicknessn i o s r . Further digging made it evident that further erections proceeded from this poin e tCairn th towarde cas f th n o e Caithnessi s e n easti th ss a , , explore r AndersonM y b dd describe an e Proceeding, th n i d f thio s s Society, vol. vii. part 2. A portion of a very rude wall was followed to the distance of a few feet in that direction, no trace of sepulture, or of any anima manufacturer o l d remains being however discovereds wa I . under the necessity of closing up the digging at this point, reserving farther excavatio futura o nt e time. I have pointed out in the above, the facts connected with the partial excavatio whaf no I tbeliev vere b yo et interesting remain f prehistoriso c antiquity t woulI . vere db y desirable tha mora t e thorough exploration were made, so as to ascertain the precise character of the remains, and to do what may be necessary for their preservation. I purpose, on my next visit endeavouo t , havo t r e this done, whe ablI ne hop b eo et to report some interesting and satisfactory results.

Supplementary Notice. I hav satisfactioe eth supplemenf o y reporto nb precedinwa e y th ,b o t g Notice, tha Juln ti y 1871 I resume, d broc e worth t hka near Levenwick, the opening of which has been described; and the result is such that e generath l characte d constructioe an b r w e buildinth no f y o n ma g determined. After clearing away the heavier portion of the debris which remained within, aftee formeth r r excavations t i appeare, firse b poinn i t o f t do t importance to ascertain the entrance, which I imagined, from the analogy of some other.brochs, would be on the east side. As mentioned in my former communication, the openings of three passages were exposed'in the interior area, one oh the south, the others on the north and east sides respectively. By the gradual removal of the debris which blocked up the last of these (5)e passagth , s tracewa e d eastward, first, throug e inneth h r walr o l NOTIC EXCAVATIONF EO BROCA N SI H NEAR LEVENWICK7 1 2 .

" scarcement, thed an "n throug e maith h n s openinwallit e th o t , n go outside of the building (&, e, /,). The loose condition of the ruin in this quarter, consistin larga o gt e exten materiaf o t l previously displaced from other portion e excavationsth f o s , madf considerabl o e wor e th e on k e difficulty d preventean , o thorougs d a hclearancs e wa tim th s a et a e desirable, but the result, as it is, is important, inasmuch as the original entrance to the building was now ascertained and laid open. lintele e passagTwth th f f oo o s e remai situ, n oven i e openin e on th r g e interioth (6n i ) e exposer th are n i ae "d th scarcement,fac f o e e th " e inne othemaie th th n rpassage f o rn edgo th rese wall) f e(e Th o ts i e. uncovered, and the sides gradually diminish in height as they approach outee th rcircle edgth f eeo (/), where little more tha mere nth e founda- tions remain, the building having suffered great dilapidation at this point. e lengte passageth Th f ho , throug e maith h n walld scarcementan s i , together about 19 or 20 feet. Its width at the opening in the inside of maie th n abous wali ) feet(e l3 whert d an , t e openinterioi th o st r area (6) in the scarcement, only about 2 feet. The precise level of the floor at either point is difficult to determine, and hence the heights of the opening t givenno e .sar The entrance having been ascertained, it was evident that the two remaining openings in the interior area above referred to, must lead either staircase th o t e communicating wit e uppeth h r portion towere th r f so o , to chambers withinorte th openint e walle hn se nth Th o s sid .) gwa e(a courss it d toean , excavated, throug "e scarcement,hth " wher t wideneei d int olarga e triangular space (g fronn doorwaa )i f maie o t th nn y i wall , 5| feet high nearld an , feey3 t wide, covered wit hheava y lintel stone. This doorway was found to have been carefully built up, and the removal of this obstruction, and the clearing of the opening beyond it, was attended with much difficult dangerd yan , fro dilapidatee mth dbuilde statth f e-o ing. The excavation was however proceeded with, and the opening proved eventually to be the entrance, to the staircase (/*), which, after the main entrance nexe th s t poinwa , importancf o t e ascertainedb o et e Th . stair itself was followed until daylight appeared above, when operations cease than di t direction buildine th d carefulls an ,g wa ye covereTh . in d staircase widtth t firsf a o h s ti e abou feet3 t , from whic t i hslightl y diminishes usuaroofee s i th t I n ldi .way overlappiny b , g stones. 8 21 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , APKI , 1871L10 .

The building being so ruinous, the further tracing of the stair was impossibl t thia e sr som pointfo ed distancan , resule furtherth t t Bu . of a careful examination served to show that the stair as explored, pro- ceeds upwards to a height from the floor of 8 or 10 feet, where it halts, and is continued by a level gallery along the heart of the building towards e southth , wher t ei terminate e easth s t n open a (k)o sid f no e space betwee wallse nth , wher largea e windo e interioropen) th w(? n o t sO . the west side of this space (m), the stair again starts for the next gallery above, and ] 5 steps of it at this point have been laid bare. I thus succeeded in ascertaining the entrance to the broch, and also, as I think, the true theory of its construction, which, while resembling that of , is somewhat different, inasmuch as the stair would appear to continuousla t no e b y ascendin gleao t stagee one dt d on firsbu , an ,o t t then to be continued by a gallery proceeding around on a level to a distanc f aboue o e hale circleon th ft , whe t nagaii n ascend seconda o st , probabld an y simila. ron galleryo s d an , One other opening in the interior area, on the south side (c), has been partially cleared, but remains to be properly explored. As it is neither the entrance from without, nor the opening to the staircase, it probably leads to an isolated chamber or chambers within the great wall. A quantity of animal bones and of decayed vegetable fibre was found, als oa carefull y worked stone, somewhat resemblin plummeta g , with a hol ende eon . drillee th n di As regards the outside of the building, a considerable quantity of the debris attache coverind removeds an o dwa t goo a t g i t d bu ;dea labouf lo r will still be required satisfactorily.to clear it away and excavate around , includinit e ramblingth g -like structures which e remaiwesth tn o n e adjacenth sided an , t mounds which wer e origina th referre n i lo t d notice. It is probable that these excavations might prove the most interestin gworke parth f o t. Note.—The vegetable remains above mentioned were submitte Dy db r John Alex. Smit Joho ht n Sadler, Esq., Botanical Demonstrator, Eoyal Botanic Gardens, from who e followinmth g communicatio s beeha n n received:— " On examination, I find that the vegetable remains found in excavat- ing the ruins of the Pictish Tower or Broch of Levenwict, in Shetland, NOTIC EXCAVATIONF EO BROCA N SI H NEAR LEVENWTCK9 21 . consist of two kinds of partially decayed timber. 1st, The light-coloured pieces are those of a species of pine. Under the microscope the character- isti cwoode th disc n yo s tube e distinctlar s y see n singli n e rows along with large medullary rays. Fro appearance mth whole th f eo structure, I hav hesitatioo en sayinn ni g tha e fragmentth t s belonScotr ou r sfi o gt (Pinus sylvestris). darke2d, The mor and r e numerous pieceare s evidently those of some hard-wooded tree, such as the alder or elm. The wood is not porous enough for oak, being deficient in dotted vessels or ducts."

MONDAY, 8th May 1871.

DAVID MILNE HOME, LL.D., Yice-President Chaire th n i ,. followine Th g Gentlemen were balloted admitteford an , d Fellowe th f so Society :— Sir JOHN F. CLARK, Bart., of Tillypronie, Aberdeenshire. JAMES W. BAILLIB of Culterallers, Esq., W.S. JOHN HUTCHISON, Esq., E.S.A. ARCHIBAL . WATDA Dennistonf To , Esq., Dundee. ANDREW HEITON, Esq., Architect, Perth.

And as a Corresponding Member :— Eev. JAMES KUSSELL, Walls, Shetland.

The following Donation Museue th o sLibrart d man y were eth lain o d table, and thanks voted to the Donors :—

(1.) By WILLIAM RALSTON PATRICK of Trearne, Esq., through E. W. COCHRANE PATRICK, Esq., B.A., LL.B., F.S.A. Scot. CollectioA Humaf no n Bones fro e chambemth lona f o gr e cairnth n o , Cuff Hill, near Beith, Ayrshire. (See subsequent communication by Mr . CochranRW . e Patrick.)