112 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1901Y1] .

II.

NOTICES OF NINE BROCHS ALONG THE CAITHNESS COAST FROM KEISS BAY TO SKIRZA HEAD, EXCAVATED BY SIR FRANCIS TRESS BARRY, BART., M.P. F KEISO , S CASTLE, CAITHNESS. BY JOSEPH ANDERSON, LL.D.. ASSISTAKT-SECMSTAIVY AND KEEPER OF THE MUSEUM.

During the past ten years Sir Francis Tress Barry, Bart., M.P., F.S.A. and Hon. F.S.A. Scot. bees ha ,n engaged durin summes ghi r residenct ea Keiss Castle in the investigation of the antiquities on his own estate of s immediatit Kcis d an s e neighbourhood s give ha e frequen nm d an , t opportunities of seeing the progress and noting the results of his exten- sive excavations e districTh .s i vert y ric n remaini h f prehistorio s c r FranciSi times d an s, Barr s alreadha y y excavated nine brochd an s several other rude stone structures, som f whico e h appeasepule b o t -r chral. The object of this paper is to place on record as briefly as possible the principal results of Sir Francis Barry's excavations so far as the brochs are concerned. Previous to his operations there had been but few brochs systematically excavate n Caithnessdi e latr AlexandeM eTh . r Henry Ehiiid of Sibster (the founder of the Ehind Lectureship and donor of the Khind Excavation Fund), who was a native of the county, excavated ha e Brocdth f Kettleburuo h , near Wick n 1852.i ,e Th 1 Broch Yarhousf so d Brounabeean d beeha n n excavate 1866-6n di y 7b . SheareI . E mysel d late r an rth thier M fo fs Society with funds granted from the Rhind bequest.2 The late Mr W, S. Thomson Sinclair of Dunheath excavated a broch at the junction of the Burn of Houstry wit Watee hth Dunbeathf o r , als n 1866oi junctio e brocA th . t ha f no e Borguth d Ousdalan e e Burn d abou 0 yardan s 40 t s froe set a mth a 1 Described by Mr Rhind in the Anhaiological Journal, vol. x. p. 212, and Proceedings Soc. Ant. Scot., vol. 264p . .i . 4 Describe Archteologian di Scotica, . 131volp . ..v NOTICE NINF O S E BROCHS ALON CAITHNESE GTH S COAST3 11 .

Ousdale, was excavated in 1891 by the late Mr James Mackay, F.S.A. Scot.1 late r SamueeM Th l Lain d madgha e some partial digging severan si l mounds near Keiss in 1864, and in different parts of the county there had been occasional excavations and removals of brochs for purposes connected with agricultural improvements, but there had been only these five excavated completely and systematically for the purpose of scientific record previous to Sir Francis Barry's investigations, which have adde dthose o fiveknoo T ninth .wh we o t e wha excavatioe th t n of a broch implies, the number will oonvey an idea of the magnitude of the work accomplished, and to others the comparison will be sufficient to show that Sir Francis Barry has done more to elucidate the structure and contents of the brochs than has ever been done in Caithness before by all the investigators together. Whil trus i e most eei th thar t fo parte brochth t f Caithnesso s (and of the North of Scotland generally) have little more than a few feet of the height of their basements remaining, they nevertheless present sufficient evidence of the unity of type which is such a remarkable feature of the broch construction, whether it exists as the mere dilapi- dated e originastumth f o p l structure r whetheo , t i stilr l retaine th s greate rorigina s parit f o t l height maie Th n. feature s constructivit f so e design are still shown by a few of the better preserved examples, such, as Mousa and Clickemin in Shetland, Dun Carloway in Lewis, Dun Telve n TroddaanDu d n Dornadilln Glenelgi nDu d an n ,Sutherlandi a . Mousa still shows itselprominena s a f t featurlandscape th n i e e (fig, 1) . much as it did a thousand years ago, when it first appears on record as refuge a whol th r fo ee winte f Bjoro r n Brynjulfso s followinhi d an n g when he was shipwrecked there in the course of his flight from Norway with Thora Roald's daughter, and celebrated his marriage feast in Moseyjarborg.2 Mousa is still 45 feet high and shows six successive Described by Mr Mackay in the Proceedings, vol. xxvi. p. 351. 1 '- "Moseyjarborg, whic mentiones hi Egil'n di s Sagt aboua ) ayeae (cap33 th t , r 32 . A.D. 900. still rise e reaso se air r Th speakinth hig.fo nn hi f Moseyjarborgo n gi the Saga was that Bjorn Hauld of Aurland in Sogn, who had fled from the fiords VOIj, XXXV. H 114 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBKUAEY 11, 1901. galleries (fig. 4) above the chambers on the ground floor.1 Dun Carlo way was 40 feet high in the end of last century and still shows five galleries;

Fig. 1. Distant view of the Broch of Monsa, Shetland. (Fro mphotograpa y hb M. BrighamD r , 1899.)

Dun Telve in Glenelg (fig. 2) is still 30 feet high and shows five galleries; Dun Troddan, also in Glenelg, is still 25 feet high and shows with Tliora Hladhond, the sister of Thorer Horse, was shipwrecked in its neighbour- hood and spent some time there until his vessel was repaired and he could continue his voyage to Iceland. In later times two other lovers sought refuge in this place : Erlend Jungi distinguishea , d chief, probably from Hjaltland 115n i o 4 wh fle, d with Margaret e widoth , f Madadhwo , Ear f Atholo l d mothean , f Haroldo r , Earf o l Orkney, and shut himself up with her in the borg. He defended himself for some time against Harold, who besieged the borg, but as it was -well provisioned and could not be taken, peace was made and the pair married."—Munch, "Scottish and Irish Local Names in the Sagas," in Memoires ilc la SoctttA des Antiquains du Nord, 1850-60, p. 127. 1 Low, in his sectional drawing made in 1774, shows the remains of a seventh gallery.— Low's Tour, p. 183.

116 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1901.

four galleries (fig. 5); Dun Dornadilla in 1766 was still 25 feet high, d showean d three galleries. Fro e generamth l identit n thyi e main feature f theio s r desigd nan constructio s evideni t i n t that this clas f ancieno s t stronghola s wa d typical structure of great importance and significance in the archaeology of Scotland, forming a more outstanding feature in the aspect of the e civilisatioth e countrf timo th ed f o nan ytha n eve e medievath n l castles which came long after them d whichnorthere an ,th n i , n districts at least, they far outnumbered, while each on an average was quite as larg mediaevaa s ea l keep mand an , y were very much larger. The special ohject and intention of the formation of these peculiar structures seems to have been to provide a sufficient number of secure refuges for the people and their cattle and other possessions from temporary danger threatened by incursions of predatory bands, and no type of structure more admirably suited for passive defence was ever .devised. The typical broeh was a huge dry-built circular tower rising on a bas f aboueo fee0 6 tdiameten i t heigha o t rf abou s o tit feet0 n 5 I t . elevatio holloa e towe s nth wwa r cylinder havin gthicknesa walf so f o l fro m5 fee1 1to t 2surroundin n interioa g r cour f abouo t 0 fee3 n ti t diameter open to the sky. As all the windows looked into the interior court, there was no opening to the outside of the tower except the tunnel- like doorway about five yards in length which traversed the thickness of the wall of the cylinder and thus gave access to the court (fig. 3). Some distance withi e externanth l apertur f thieo s doorwa doore th s , ywa a slab of stone set up against the door-checks and securely fixed in place against them by a drawbar resting in holes made for it in the thickness of the wall. The doorway was further protected by a guard-chamber behind e door sometimeth d an , s als chambeshowa s o(a y b fign ) i 3 .r ovee th r e passagelintelth f o s , between which spaces were left through which weapons coul usee db d against assailants forcin entrancen ga t supposBu . e maie th n entrance forced t onli , y gave accesinterioe th o st t i r courtn i d an , the enemy found themselves, as it were, at the bottom of a well 30 feet in diameter, with walls 50 feet high and pierced on all sides by ranges of NOTICE F NINO S E BEOC11S ALON E CAITHNESGTH S COAST7 11 .

windows commanding every foot of the space below. From this court chambere th e flooth rn so leve reachee ar l y separatb d ee doorsth d an , upper galleries by the stairway, which has a separate door of access, usually protected by a guard-chamber at the foot of the stair. The whole e heightoweth f o r t abov e loweth e r stor s occupiei y a serie y f b do s galleries running completely round in the thickness of the wall, con-

Fig . Doorwa3 . Broce th f Cairnliathf yho o , Dunrobin Park. (Fro mPhotograph.a )

structed immediately over each other so that the slabs forming the roof of the one below form also the floor of the one next above it, and lighted y verticab l range f windowo s s opening int e courte sectionath oTh . l elevations of Mousa and Dun Troddan (figs. 4 and 5) show the arrange- ment of the stairs, galleries, and windows. t thougBu h thus admirably e speciasuiteth r fo dl purpos f theio e r . Sectiona4 g Fi l Elevatio e Brocth f Mousaf no ho , Shetland.

Fig . Sectiona5 . l Elevatio f thno eTroddaiin BrocDu f ho , Glenel, NOTICE NINF O S E BEOCHS ALON E CAITHNESTH G S COAST9 11 .

immediate intention, their dry-built construction was peculiarly unfavour- able to their preservation wlien the changed conditions of society rendered their special function no longer necessary to the existing phase of civili- sation d consequentlan , y they were soon reduce e conditioth o t d f o n dilapidated rui n whici n fino w hd themt theiBu r. numbe theid an rr geographical distribution still testify to their former importance, the rounded grass-covered mounds which now conceal their remains being thickly scattered over the best arable land and for long distances up the river valleys. They are surprisingly numerous in the northern cotinties, upward havin0 8 f so g been enumerate n Caithnessi d Sutherlandn i 0 6 , , 70 in Orkney, and 75 in. Shetland. Though fewer in the southern counties,1 they range from Shetlan o Berwickshiredt d thuan ,s forma feature in the prehistoric aspect of the country, all the more remarkable tha e typ th ts peculia i e o Scotlandt r a singl t no ,e example having ever been found elsewhere.

The brochs now to be described are all situated on a strip of the eastern coast-line of Caithness extending from the mouth of the Water of Wester to Skirza Head a distanc, f abouo e t seven indebtem milesa I .o t d Sir Francis Barry for the ground-plans and photographs which follow, and to the Eoyal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland for the use of the . 16 d blockan , 10 figsf so , 8 . The Wester Brock.—The Wester Broc s i situatehe link th t a sn o d moute Watee th th f f Westeho o r r wher t i debouchee f o y sBa int e oth Keiss aboud mileo an , tw t s sout Keisf ho slandware Castleth n O .d edge of the fringe of sandy dunes which here extends along the shore there are two sand-hills further inlan mord dan e conspicuous tha reste nth , whice har locally knowBirkle th s na e Hills f thes conicalla O largese f .o e th s ywa t rounded form, about 30 feet high, and spreading out to a base of upwards fee0 diametern oi t20 f s excavatioIt . shows nha s uppenit r par havo t t e

1 The enumeration for the southern counties, so far as known, is as follows : Two in Forfarshire Perthshiren i e n Stirlingshireon i , e on , n Selkirkshirei n o i e tw , on d an , Berwickshire. 120 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1901. heen formed of hlown sand accumulated around and over the ruins of a brocli which had heen originally built on a lower eminence also formed of pure sand. e circulaTh r wal f tho l e broc fee3 1 hts i thick(fig ) 6 . , enclosinn a g area of 27 feet in diameter. The entrance passage opened towards the

Xp 30 /•,£> 60 6O 70 if'w-. Fig. 6. Ground Plan of the Broch of Wester and its outbuildings. landward side, facing nearly west-north-west s 3-i J t I fee n widt.i t h at the exterior entrance, and narrows somewhat at a distance of 9 feet inwards, where there are checks for a door, the width at the opening into the area being 2 feet 7 inches. At a distance of 22 feet round the NOTICES OF NINE BROCKS ALONG THE CAITHNESS COAST. 121.

heigha t fee3 a interiof te d o lef t abovth an t o t re th ee are leveth af o l entrance th staire s i th o ,et 2-|- feet wide, giving acces sstaie botth ro ht oblonn a o t gd chambean r opposit e stair-footth e e stair Th f whico ,. h five steps remain, goes up to the right; the bottom steps are 3 feet wide, the upper ones narrowing gradually to little more than 2 feet in width. chambee Th r opposit stair-fooe eth s aboui t fee3 t widtn i t 9-|d -h an feet in length, and coved at the end. At a distance of 30 to 40 feet from the exterior of the hroch on the west side are the remains of a wall of circumvallation, which was traced continuousl considerablea r yfo distanc !N"."We th S.Wd n an eo . . sidesd an , t witme h occasionall opposite th n yo e side thao s , t seemi t havo st e been continued quite round the lowe sand-hile r parth f o t whicn o l broce hth h was placed. Between this enclosin landware broce gth th waln d ho an l d side are the foundations of eight or nine small cells or outbuildings. The objects found in this broch included a number of thin flat circular discs of slaty stone of various sizes,1 several whetstones, an upper stone of a quern and several saddle querns, a large long-handled comb, measuring 5J inche y 2b £s inches, having five e prongtootheth n o sd end, several handle f bon o sd deean e r horn d fragmentan , f vero s y coarse pottery e mostTh . remarkable things found here, however, were three quartzite pebble f ovoio s d shape, which have their surfaces painted with a spotblackis n i s r blackish-browo h n pigment (see fig. 22). e broc th e wal f th h o f l o sane wer th p den to I ove foune th r d four These disc thif so n slaty stone, varyininche4 1 r n o s i incheg 4 2 fror 1 o mo 3 st 1 diameter foune ar ,northeralmos e n di th l al t n s beebrochsha n t I suggeste. d that som f theey havo mma e been coverf o jarr f fo clay e so s d instance us an ,e th f o s precisely similar discs equally roughly chippe rouna o dt d for n modermi n cottages to cover the •water-pitchers, or as pot-lids, have been referred to. Another use, now altogether extinct s alsha ,o been suggested. Withi e memorth n f persono y s still living it was customary in Orkney to use thin slate stones roughly chipped to a circular or square form for parching corn over the fire to make ' burstan.' The stone was surrounde e uppeth n rdo side wit hbordea soff o r t cla preveno yt e corth t n from falling off intfire th eos stirred whewa t ni . The corn thus parche d roughlan d y ground on a quern was eaten with milk or cream, " They'll hae burstan and butter- milk every proverdaya s "wa b expressiv luxuriouf eo s living. 122 PROCEEDING F THO SE SOCIETY, FEBRUAR , 190111 Y .

cists with skeleton t fulsa f thesl o s lengthextende e ewa On . d partially over the passage into the broch. These burials must have been made long after the broch had become a dilapidated ruin covered with blown sand. In one of the outbuildings the bones of a child were also found. Keiss Broch.—This broch is situated immediately behind and to the e villagth e seawarf f nortKeiss.th o s o onlei f d o t hyw I en d1fe a

Fig. 7. Ground Plan of Keiss Broch and its outbuildings. yards distant fro beache m th d separate an , a leved y frob l t strimi f o p greensward. 1 This broch is "The Harbour Mound," partially dug into by the late Mr Samuel Laing in 1864, and described in his Prehistoric Remains of Caithness, 1866, p. 22. His excavations, however, were merely sufficient to enable him to conjecture that buildine th g mus classee b t d amon e e e detailwholbrochsgth th th f d o es an , have since been worked out by Sir Francis Tress Barry. , NOTICES OF NINE BROCIIS ALONG THE CAITHNESS COAST. 123

The broch (fig. 7) consists of a circular wall about 12 feet thick, enclosin interion ga r8 fee 3 n diameterarei f t o a . Agains e loweth t r part of the interior face of the broch wall there is added an inner wall

Fig. 8. Keiss Broch. Interior, showing entrance to stairway (partly reconstructed) and secondary buildin debrisn go . or scarcement 15 inches thick stild an ,l risin a heigh o t g f fro o t m about 4 to about 6 feet on the northern side of the area. This reduces the diamete interio the fee35 of 6 rinchefloo t to rthe r at slevel . Above 124 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , FEBRUAR , 190111 Y .

scarcemene th thicknese th t e hrocth f hso wal fros i l 1 fee m1 6 inche t s feetth2 d 1 e an , o height t remainin e highesth t ga t par s ahoui t t 8 feet fo considerabla r e portio s circumferencit f no e landwarth 1 e01 d sidee th , part facing the sea having been much broken down and the stones carried off. On the sea face there has been an entrance passage through the main wall of the broch, over a sill 3 feet wide, but though the wall on both sides is gone, there are remains of the floor of the guard- chamber. A well-made drain passes under the flags of the entrance,

Kig . Keis9 . s Broch. Closed entranc easn eo t side, with par f slao t b doo situ,n i r and triangular stone at hase of outside wall.

and the socket-stone of the pivot of a (secondary) door remains in e left-hanth situn o d side. Twenty-four feet roun e interioth d r circumference to the left is the entrance to a stair in the thickness of the wall (fig. 8), at a height of 3 feet 6 inches above the general level of the floor of the internal area. This entrance to the stairway is 2 feet 4 inches wide; the stair itself is 3 feet wide, and still shows nine steps d fivan goin stepe- , up gs down belo e entrance th levewth a f o l o t e water-hole, the supply apparently communicating also with a well in the interior area. This well is irregularly circular, about 4J feet in NOTICES OF NINE BKOCHS ALON E CAITHNESGTH S COAST5 12 .

diameter and 6 feet deep. On one side there were four steps down, and the top was covered by slabs laid level with the floor of the area. Oopposite nth e uree th sid af e o enorth-easfacin th o t g t therd ha e been another stairway with a chamber at the foot of the stair. Of the stair, which was 3 feet 4 inches in width, two or three steps are left, and the chamber still shows part of the overlapping roof. The most interesting feature here, however, is that the entrance to the stairway has been at one time part of a main entrance through the exterio e wallr th par f , o t whic e scarced beeth ha hd n - an buil p u t ment built in front of it, though the bar-holes still remain behind on eithe a rsla sidd b an estoo d upright agains e e checkth th t f o s doorway (fig. 9), with two holdfasts of stone in the bar-holes behind n o placekeei t t t i i p . Enouge loweth e f sidero th hf par o f s o t the passage remained to show that they had been very solidly built, the width of the entrance at the outside being 2|- feet, widening behin e check e outsideth 3 de feesid th 3 incheson o ett n s t O a , . of the entrance, was a very largo triangular stone, which might have been originall e linteth y l stone ovee doorway.th r e maiTh n1 wall s beeha n well buil f ratheo t r massive masonr n thio y s side (fig. 10), but there is more of the height left further round where the wall remains entir a heigh o feet6 t ef abou o o tt . 5 t e stonth Of ea leveo n doop lto rwit e showth h d n figi nan , .9 about 2|- feet above the floor of the passage, there was a secondary floor paved with slabs laid on the debris, and on it a fireplace with ashes. Other secondary floors and wall-foundations occurred at various heights within the interior area of the broch. The objects found in this broch were two small pieces of the lustrous d pottere e perioEomare th th f f o o dyn occupation, commonly called Samian piecewarew fe f coarsa s,o e unglazed pottery wit n impressea h d chevonry pattern somd an , e piece f exceedinglso y coarse pottery unorna- mented, a small crucible f inch in depth with a portion of melted bronze goo1A d many brochs have this for f lintemo l ovee outeth r r entrance, sucs a h Dun Dornadilla, Cullswick, etc. 126 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBKDARY 11, 1901. adhering to the bottom of the interior, a long-handled comb of bone 5| inches in length, with eight prongs on the toothed end, several bone pinpointed san d implement d cylindricasan l handle f bono d sdeer an e - horn a smal, l cylinde f bono r e perforated longitudinall d witan ya h round hole in the side reaching through to the longitudinal perforation,

. FigKeis10 . s Broch. Exterio Broce th f o hr wall, showing characte masonryf ro . an oval oblong water-worn pebble of quartzite with a straight shallow depression, passing obliquely acrosflatteo tw ss r it eacfaces, f o h stona 1 e These ovoid water-worn pebbles of quartzite, wit indentation ha n running obliquely 1 to the longer axis on one or both of the flat faces, have also been found in the brochs of Lingrow, Orkney, and Kintradwell, Sutherlandshire. They have occurred occasion- NOTICE F NINO S E BROCHS ALON E CAITHNESGTH S COAST7 12 .

having incised on tlie upper side a narrow cavity with straight sides, 5|r inches in length and widening to a head at one end, probably a mould a lam, f sandstono p e y 54£b inchesa rudel d an ,y shapep dcu of sandstone, measuring 4^ inches in length by 4A- inches in breadth inche2 d n depthi an s , portion f severao s l larger vessel f sandstono s e with oblong oval cavities rudely hollowed in them, several grain-rubbers or saddle querns, three upper stones of circular rotatory querns, and a large stone mortar with broken bottom simila thoso rt e use huskinr dfo g barley. Among the food refuse were bones of the common domestic animals, , sheeox goar swinepe d o th an t , bone birdf so s (includin Greae gth t Auk), antlers of red deer of great size,1 and quantities of the shells of the common edible molluscs of the adjacent littoral, chiefly limpets and periwinkles. e soutlittlth A f thio o h t e e sfoundation th broc e ar ha larg f o se rectangular building. Broch at the White Gate.—On the same beach terrace at the distance of less tha quartena northwarde mila th f o o ret separated an , d froe mth beach only by the same narrow strip of level greensward, is the broch at White th e Gate. littlo S 2e remaine moune th f do d that must once have covered this broch thafiele th td dyk beed eha n carried straight acros, sit and the part within the field levelled for cultivation. The broch (fig. 11) consists of a circular wall about 13 feet thick enclosin n are a gf abou o a t 26 fee n diameteri t . Only abou 5 feetf o t e e heighwalth th lf o remainst a scarcemento d sigther n f an ,o n s i e . The entrance faces the sea, the passage going straight through the wall

e cavfouns allth t Borness Crannogsen ywa a i n di e on d , Kirkcudbrightshirean , , asso- ciated with e comblong-handleth f o s d type. t unfrequentlTheno e yar y founn i d Irelandr JohSi nt Evanbu , s state neves s witt thaha hme re th the Englandmn i . 1 A portion of the beam of an antler of the reindeer with the brow antler attached was found in this broch by Mr Laing. Another antler of larger size from the same hroch was considered by Professor Owen to be a variety of the reindeer. Fragments of reindeer horns were also found in the broch of Yarhouse, Caithness. Proceedings, vol. viii . 193p . . 2 This is merely an entrance gate to a field, but it gives a convenient means of distinguishin broce gth h clost fro i others e y mth eb . 128 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , FEBRUARY 11, 1901.

fro exterion ma r openin feeg2 t 10 inche widthn si , widenin fee3 6 o tgt incheinterioe th t sa r opening distanca t A 3 fee .inchef 8 teo s inward fro exterioe mth r opening ther checke ear doora r sfo , forme f slabdo t sse upright edgeway wale d projectinth an l n i s inche6 g s intpassage oth e on either side, the width of the door-sill between them being 2 feet 7 inches. At a distance of 5 feet 6 inches further in another pair of similar checks projec inche8 t n eitheo s rdistanca side t fee2 A 1 t.f eo roun e inneth d r circumferenc f tho e e aree ath f froo e inne mth d en r

Fig. 11. Ground Plan of Bvoch at the White Gate, and its outbuildings. entrance passage to the left is a break in the inner side of the main wall which might have bee e entranc th ne thicknes a staith e o n t ei rth f o s wall, but it is here much broken down, and a secondary chamber about 7 feet in diameter has been formed partly upon the wall 2 feet above the origina l o secondarfloorTw . y partitions e formeon , f largo d e slabt se s d soman ed odistancnen ee othe th apart f slabo d r e edgn an th ,so n ei NOTICE F NINO S E BROCHS ALON E CAITHNESTH G S COAST9 12 .

floor (fig. 12), also crossed the area of the liroch from the entrance to the back. They are 8 feet apart, and midway between them and nearly in the centr aree constructioa th s ai f eo n forme f fouo d r n edgo slah n t i e sse e floorth , making a eist-lik e cavity nearly 2£ feet square. t shorA 1 t distance sid e e ereceon ar n ts o slab t edgewisse s maie th no et walln I . north-ease th interiote sidth f eo e mair th fac nf eo wal l ther recesa s i e s or aumbr feey2 t squar heigha t ea abouf o t t 3| feet fro floore mth .

Fig . BrocWhite 12 th . t ha e Gate. Interior, showing entranc arean i p slabd .u t ean sse slae righe Tth oth b s i tenclosur whicn ei large hth e vesse rudf o l e potter founds ywa .

circulae th n I r enclosur uprighf eo e are tsidth e aslabf on eo show t sa n in fig. 12 were found the fragments of a very large jar of coarse unglazed pottery (fig. 13), which when reconstructed measured 17 inches in heigh 17y b t | inche diameten i s e mouthth t a r , taperin inche7 o gt n si e largesth r . diametefa t y pottere b bottom th s i t t a rI y .vesse l hitherto

1 Such cist-like construction oftee sar n e areafounth f brochsn o sdi . They seem in many cases to have been fireplaces, like those formerly used in St Kilda, of which some have survived till recent times. See Kearton's With Nature and a Camera (1897), p. 34. "In an ancient straw-thatched hut .... in front of the box-like bedstead on which the old woman was lying were four thick flags driven into the ground so as to form a rough kind of square, in the centre of which smouldered a fire of turf. Directly over this and suspended from the roof-tree was a long smoke- blackened chain use hanginr dfo g kettle cooking-potd san s on." VOL. XXXV. I 130 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1901. broeh.y foune onlan Th n di y1 other objects found grain w werfe a -e rubbers and portions of rotatory querns. entrance Th e passag s eprolongei towarda se e dsth outwards through a series of secondary buildings containing four irregularly shaped cham- f whico bers e hon , showe de roofin parth f f o overlappint o g g slabs.

Fig. 13. Large Jar of rude. Pottery from White Gate Broch. (J.)

Within a few yards of this 'broch are the remains of the foundations of an oblong rectangular building of dry-built masonry measuring 45 feet in length by 24 feet in breadth, the walls being about 4 feet thick. 1 Presente Museue th . T Proceedings,e F o .d t r th Barry 189mn e i Si y Se 3b . vol. . xxii43 . p . NOTICE NINF O S E BROCHS ALON E CAITHNESGTH S COAST1 13 .

The Road Brocli.—This broch lie spublie closth o t ec road from Keiss Joho t ' e Groatleft-hano n th n o s de roa th sid df eo goin g northwards, and is less than a quarter of a mile distant from the two seaside brochs. e placTh e wher broc e e ruinth th ef h o swer e discovere r FranciSi y db s Barr localls yi y wasta know Kire s i th ekd s npiec a an Ta , f grounfeo ts d modere soute lyinth th f o hgo t n graveyard supposes i t I . d that some- wher e presen th ee sit f eitheth o e e tuncultin th o cemeterr 1 01 - r o y vated ground to the south of it there had been an early church, and there are the foundations of an oblong rectangular building between the burial-ground and the broch, but it presents no distinctively ecclesiasti- cae analogoub l y oblone featuresth ma o t sd g an rectangula, r buildings found close to the sites of the seaside brochs. Between this rectangular building and the road there was an extensive shell-heap which had been cut througroadside th y b h e ditch. e sectioIith i n thus exposed ha dI found rude bone pinfurthes d potter intan sg wa t odu ri n 1863y i d an , by Mr Samuel Laing in 1864.1 But Mr Laing's excavations were chiefly confined to the kitchen midden, and the existence of the broch in the unexposed portioe wastth f eno groun s unsuspectedwa - un s d wa til t i l earthe r FranciSi largesy e db th smosd Barrys i an t tt I interestin. f go Keise th s brochs presentd an , s several feature f peculiao s r interes conn i t - nection with its-construction and outbuilding. The circular wall of the hroch (fig. 14) has a total thickness varying fro fee3 m1 inche 9 fee t5 1 originae inches9 t o th st t bu , l wall seemo t s have been only about 12 feet thick, and a casing wall, varying about 3 fee fee 2 inche9 o tt t thicknessn si s beeha , n adde e ^toutsidn oth do e of the exterior face of the broch wall. The enclosed area or interior fee4 cour3 n diameteri ts i t . Therscarcemento n s i e 'entrance Th . e faces the N.E. and is 2 feet 6 inches wide at the outside, going straight throug a distance wal r h5 feeth 1 fo inche9 l tf o ed increasin an s n i g width from the inner side of the checks to 3 feet 2 inches at the opening into the internal area.

1 Describe Churchyare "s Th da d Mound Laing'"n i s Prehistoric Remains of Caith- ness (1886), p. 19. 132 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY' 11, 1901.

ISTe passag oth e roo parf th o ff o et remains . distanca t 7 feeA f to .e fro exterioe mth r opening fee8 inche9 td an , s fro openine mth g inte oth court r abou o , e middle passageth th t f o e , ther e check dooa ar e r rfo s formed of slabs 4 feet 7 inches in height set edgewise in the passage

°*• T T T 6f T Fig. Groun14 . dRoae Plath f d no s outbuildings Brocit d han , wit encircline hth g wall. walls and projecting from them so as to leave an opening between them of 2 feet 9 inches wide at the top and 3 feet at the bottom. On the righ e passagt th sid f d 2o eJ an e feet withi e door-checkth n s thi s e entranc guard-chambea o et fee2 r tfee 3 wid d t e highchambeean Th . r

134 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1901.

was found to extend for at least 8 feet in length, but as the roof has fallesidee th nsd iwernan e very insecur s impossiblwa t ei cleao t e t i r without endangering the stability of this part of the broch wall. Twenty feet round the interior circumference from the main entrance e entranc th e stai e th lefs i th rto t ) o e(figopenint 15 . g froe th m interio fee 2 rs heigh inche4 s it tcourti fee 5 f t o I s t ts. ha wid d an e remaining, but the lintel is gone. A chamber at the foot of the stair to e leftth , enteree staith ry b dentrance 2 fee1 t s fee5 i ,lon ty gb wide , and terminates in a rounded end. The stair ascends to the right of the entrance 4 feet within the thickness of the wall, and the well of the stairwa fee4 s yti widee steps Th f whico ., h twelve still remaine ar , somewhat irregula heighn i r n welwidts i a teasil s e f a ltreadar o h t y bu , traversable mord an , e regular than might have been expected from their being mad undressef eo d stones. Nearly opposit e maieth n entrancn o e furthee th re cour a chambesidth f s e wali teo th ln i r(fig . 16), entered through a rectangular hole cut in a big slab, which forms the front of the chamber. Internally its walls are built in the thickness of the broch rooe formes th walli f d theiy an ,d b r convergence upwards tilspace lth s ei spanned by flat stones. The size of this chamber is 4 feet 6 inches long, fee3 inche9 t s fee 4 wide inche7 d t an simila,o stw highf rO recesses. , but smaller, on the same side of the court, one has directly in front of its opening a cist-like construction in the floor 3 feet 6 inches long by 2 feet 3 inches wide and 22 inches in depth. distanca t fee4 A 2 tf eo fro e maimth n entrance roun interioe dth f o r e righcoure th th o tt e t entranc isth e froe courmth o anothe t t r stair, also shown in fig. 16. This entrance is 3 feet 9 inches wide, and a part originas onlit f yo l height remains e stai Th re right . th goe o ,t s eleven steps remaining e stairwa e th wel th f fee3 o ld s inche6 i ytan , s wide. A e staichambe th e foo r f th e lefo goin tth t ta r o frogt e stai th m r entrance is the largest known in any broch. It extends for 30 feet alon middle e thicknesgth th f e broceo th feef 4 h so inches 6 i twall d an s, floore s wallwid It th muce n . sar eo h decayed t the e bu stil, y ar fee 6 l t in height, though none of the roofing lintels remain, and the rounded NOTICES OF NINE BROCHS ALONG THE CAITHNESS COAfeT. 135 e chambeth f o s d covei r en d hy overlappin e casth f go e n stonesi s A . Keise th s Brocli thertime bees entrancn on e a eha t na e passage froe mth exterior at the foot of this stair, 3 feet 9 inches in width, and placed directly opposite the entrance to the stair from the interior, which is also fee3 inche9 t widthn si s seeA n. from inside s blockei t a slai , y bb d

,, y

. RoaFig16 . d Broch. Interior, showing entranc chambeo et thicknesn i r e th f so slaba entranc d f o an , t wallou stairwayo et t cu , . door with a big stone against it, and has bar-holes on both sides, but on the outside it is blocked by the wall of a secondary construction buil againsp u t e brocth t h wall. In the centre of the area is an underground chamber with steps down 136 PEOCBEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1901.

d coverean t i o d over with fee5 , s ti slabsfee3 lon t I y t b g.wid e an feee dside5 inche6 e on root . th t a kf so deept d partlou an t , cu y o tank-liktw Ther e ar ee construction e areath ,n i sforme f slabo d s f whico 3 feee floor e n edgth s ti o h 2 on fee n ,t i lone 4 y tse b g

Fig. 17. Road Broch. Corner of exterior encircling wall, showing characte f masonryo r .

inches foowid1 inche6 y te b s othere deeth p; fee 3 , inche2 t s lony gb 2 fee inche9 t s widfoo1 inche6 y teb s deep, bot f whico h h still hold NOTICES OF NINE BEOCHS ALONG THE CAITHNESS COAST. 137

water. There is also a squarish stone vessel standing in the floor with a cavity 1 foot square hy 9 inches deep. The interior court is subdivided into four sections "by secondary partition f slabo s n edg o ss show (a e n in figs. 15 and 16), and there arc several small cist-like constructions of four slabs inserted edgewise in the floor, most probably as fireplaces. A unique feature of this broch is the presence of a circular court about 33 fegt in diameter which has been added in front of the main entrance, and the wall of which is partially founded on the lower courses additioe o th fthicknese th e o exteriont th f so e broce r th th wal o f ht o l right of the entrance, and partially on an accumulation of debris 2| feet n heighti e wal f thiTh o l .s f inferiocouro s i t r masonr d mucan y h broken s stili down t l hu standin, a heigh o t gf abouo t s feet3 tIt . for mgrouns e showi th n no d plan, fig. 14. A number of outbuildings are contained in the space between the broch and a massive wall of circnmvallation which encloses the whole within an area of 144 feet in diameter, and is still standing to a height of 7 feet 3 inches at its highest part. n thiI s broch were found some piece f coarseo s , badly firedd an , unornamented pottery, a portion of an armlet of shale, a finely made' bon n wit pi en ornamente a h d head a bon, e needle a portioe , th f o n cylindrical shafa win f o gt a largbon f o e bird, wit a hhol e bored through froe sidem on a long-handle , d com f bono b e with five prongs e tootheth t a d end a smal, l bronze ring a flattis, h circular disf o c sandstone resembling an iniperforate whorl, 1-^ inches in diameter and f of an inc n thicknesi h s (fig. 18), having slightly incised markings rudely suggestive of an attempted inscription on both of its flat sides, and on one side the figure of a bird,1 several stone whorls and whet- stones lama , f stonepo stona , witp ecu h side-handle,2 water-worn stones grooved like sinkers a smal, l rudely hollowed stone vessel, several rounded stones with roughly made hollows on both sides, two oval stone 1 This interesting, but enigmatic stone was presented to the Museum in 1895 by Sir F. T. Barry. See the Proceedings, vol. xxix. p. 274. Similar stone cups with side handles have been broche founth n Kintradf di so - well2 , Sutherland, and Kettleburn, Caithness. 138 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1901.

vessels and several fragments of similar vessels of various sizes, a number of flat circular disc f slato s y ston f differeno e t sizes, twelve upper

Fig. Obvers18 . reversd ean Sandstonf eo e Disc from Road Brocli, Keiss. Slightly enlarged. and lower stones of rotatory querns, two large under stones of saddle querns (fig. 19) and several fragments of others, a piece of a quern with a mould for ingots of square section 4 inches long, hollowed

Fig. 19. Rubbing Stones, Querns, Stone Vessels, Pivot Stone, etc., from the Road Broch, Keiss. in its flat side, another mould for ingots, narrower and 5 inches in o sockelengthtw d te pivotan ,th stone f r doorso sfo s . Amone th g NOTICES OF NINE BKOCHS ALONG THE CAITHNESS COAST. 139

food refuse, as in the case of the other broclis, were bones of the domestic animals, the ox, sheep or goat, and swine, with portions of d deehornre rf o san d shell f ediblo s e molluscs smalA . l quantitf o y charred grain,1 which seems to be bore, was also met with. A single canine toota bea f o hr (Ursus aivtos) occurred amon e remaingth s from this hroch, but no other trace of the animal was discovered. As before mentioned, there are the remains of an oblong rectangular building at a higher level between the wall of circumvallation and the road. It appears, however, to be of much later date than any of the buildings withi circumvallatione nth , judging froe facmth t tha a walt l proceeding fro e outbuildingmth e brocth f hso seem paso st s abou fee4 t t under its foundations. Nybster Brocli.—The Kybster Broch is situated on the top of a high cliff-promontory projecting into the sea, which is about 60 yards in length yard0 4 d slandwar e an width t ea d end, narrowin o lesgt s than half that widtseaware th t ha bees d t of ha endnf cu t froI lane .a ditc mth y db h 2 nearly 20 feet wide drawn in a segment of a circle from the ravine at one e othersid th o that e t a .t Immediately withi e ditchth n , a well- built wall about 10 feet thick, increasing to about 15 feet in thickness in the middle, also crosses the landward end of the promontory in a segmen circla f o t e wit e convehth x side towards the land (fig. 20). Near e middlconvexite th th f o e y (wher wale eth thickests i l e entrancth s i ) e passage fee5 1 lengthn ,i t , throug e thickneshth f tho se wall fee3 , 6 t inche widte n outesi th t hra opening, widenin a distancfee4 t a o tt g e of 4-J- feet inwards, where ther e checkar e r a fo sdoor d wideninan , g again slightly at 12 feet from the entrance, where there are checks for a secon e innedth doorn e foreworr O e th e sidsout th .f th o e f o o ht k entrance, part of the thickening of its wall ends in a stairway of which five steps remain from the level of the interior area to the present level of

1 Charred grain, apparently here or barley, was found in the Broehs of Burray d Dunbeathan . • - There lias been some recent quarryin e depressionth n i g , which, howeverI , cannot help regardin originalls ga yditca fortificationf ho . 14 y T- T 6f T Fig. Groun20 . d Pla Nybstcf no r Broch, wit s forevvorhit outbuildingsd an k . NOTICES OF NINE BEOCHS ALONG THE CAITHNESS COAST. 141

the top of the wall. A similar arrangement of steps to the north of the entrance give access to the level of the present height of the wall from the floor of the long chamber immediately behind the northern half of walle th . Whateve havy ma re bee originae nth l heighwalle th f , to thes e steps may have been designed to give the defenders easy access to the top of this forework from both sides for the purpose of defending the outer entrance. Entering by this passage-way through the exterior defensive wall or

Fig. 21. Ornamented Quern from Nybster Broch.

forework broce th , h stands immediately befor s entranceit yout bu , s ei placee oppositth n do e side fro entrance mth e throug foreworke hth d an , that side of the main building is surrounded by a congeries of out- buildings, oblong, circular and irregular in form, scattered over nearly the whole area of the promontory. e brocTh h consist a circula f o s r wall 14 feet thick surroundina g central area of 23 feet in diameter. There is no scarcement. The entrance, which faces seaward, is scarcely more than 3 feet wide for a 142 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY II, 1901.

distance of 10 feet, where there are checks for a door, and the passage widens a few inches on either side for the remainder of its length. There is no guard-chamber, and no stair; in fact, no opening of any kind from the interior area, but as there is only about 4 feet of the height of the wall remaining, the entrance to the stairway may have been at a higher level. In the floor of the area towards the north side there are e cist-likth f o o e constructiontw f fouso r slabs which have been supposed fireplacese b o t , though their large size makes them look more like tanks, one measuring 4 feet by 2 feet and 2 feet 5 inches deep; the other, 3 feet 3 inches by 2 feet 8 inches and 1 foot 4 inches deep. outbuildinge Th s around this broch occupy nearl e e wholth th y f o e available surface of the promontory. Several of them are circular, and they are mostly all very well built. In the large circular outbuilding to the left of the entrance of the broch there is a tank-like construction or fireplace of four slabs in the floor 3 feet 9 inches in length by 2 feet 4 inche breadtn si h ari d2 fee t deep anothed an ; r neae wallth r fee2 , t inche4 1 lon y g b s 9 inche wid d ean s deep. The articles found in this broch include a long-handled bone comb, several portions of quern stones and saddle querns, and an upper stone of a rotatory quern (fig. 21) ornamented with radial grooves or flu tings, t withoubu a centrat l perforation. Everly Broch.—This broch is on the croft of this name arid only a short distance to the east of the road. It consists of a circular wall 14 feet inche6 s in thickness enclosin aren gfeea 9 diametera2 n i t . Thero n s ei scarcement. The entrance faces the north-west. It has an exterior open- fee3 widthf n i to g in , narrowin fee2 inche8 o gtt distanca t sa fee8 f teo in, where there are checks for a door formed of slabs set on end projectin" int passage-wae oth narrowind yan openine gth foo1 inches6 o tg- t Im . mediately behind the checks, the passage again widens to 3 feet 9 inches, openine th fee 4 t a o tt g d int e interioan oth rbroche wal e areth Th f lao . of the broch is much broken down, and there is no sign of a stair, or of any chambers in the thickness of the wall. There is secondary flooring in entrance th e passag traced a secondarean f o s y pavin e areae th Th f .g o NOTICES OF NINE BROCHS ALONG THE CAITHNESS COAST. 143

height remaining of the brooh wall does not exceed 3-J feet, so that there may have bee a stain r entrance above that level. thin I s broch were foun stonda wit p cu ehandlh a e sid th e t esimilaa r o that t e roafounth dn di broch , thre r fouo e r quern stones o graitw , n rubbers o rudeltw , y formed disc f slato s y stone, several broken stone hammer-stonew fe vesselsa d an , r naturallo s y shaped oblong pebbles wasted at the ends by use. Ness Brocli.—The situation of this broch is, like that of ^Nybster, on e necpromontora th f ko e clifth ff yabouo yard5 2 t s wide, which runt sou into the sea for a length of about 80 yards. Across the neck there is a strong wall about 6 feet high with a depression in front of it, in which there wela s feei 9 l inche6 t deptn si h with twelve steps leadind g an dow , it o nt roofed in by slabs. The broch wall is so far gone that its exterior edge has t beeno n definitely traced thereford an , thickness eit uncertains si e th f O . interior edge not more than the foundations remain, showing the interior area to have been 22 feet in diameter. There are remains of outbuildings on both sides, but those to the landward side are the more extensive and better preserved time seed havo on et an t m, a e been continuous wite hth remains of chambers across the ravine on the north side of the promontory. f tank-likthesa o s e eha On e constructio e floorf slabno th n ,i s measuring 4 feet 3 inches in length by 2 feet 2 inches in width and 2 feet in depth. Off this chamber there is a recess or smaller room 9 feet in length by 6 feet in width walle th , f whicso stile har fee4 l t high build an , t over n slabo t sse edge in the lower part of the wall face. The objects found in this broch were three quern stones, several stone vessels circular and oval in shape, a mould in sandstone for an ingot 6 inche lengthn si smala , l slender ingo f bronzo t d anothean e r abou4 t inche lengthn si bronza , link o slendea e tw f pin so d ,ran chai f bronzeno . FreswieJc Sands Brorli.—This broch is situated among the sand hills on the margin of Freswick Bay a little to the north of Freswick House. Lik Westee eth r Broch s foundationit , s rest upon pure broce sandTh h. wall, whic fee1 1 inche6 t s hi s thick had sscarcemenan a , t from8 1 1o 2t inches thick inside, inclose n interioa s r2 fee 3 areinche8 tf o a n si 4 14 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , FEBRUAR , 1901Y11 .

diameter. The wall remains for the greater part of its extent ahout 7 feet high, but is partly broken down on the side toward the land, where the original entrance probably was. Facin N.Eentranco gn t a s .i e passagy eb the foot of the stair, 2 feet 9 inches in width. There are remains of a chamber at the foot of the stair, of which fourteen steps still remain. It lefe th t froo goet middl e mp e entrancth su th f eo e passage lowese th , t step being 3 feet 10 inches in width, and the steps gradually narrowing as they ascend till the uppermost is only 2 feet 6 inches in width. At a distance of 17 feet round the interior wall to the left of the inner open- ing of the entrance passage is the opening to a chamber in the thickness flooe wale th o th r fn area e lo leve th f . o l This entranc fee2 inches e3 i t s feewidtn 4 i d t han high d leadan , s int n oblona o g chamber 12 feen i t length fee4 , widthn i t nearld an , yfee7 n heighti t e d coveth an ,t a d further end. Two curved walls of secondary construction roughly divide interioe th rbroce areth f hao into segments. . The objects found in this broch were a boulder of sandstone with nine cup-mark s surfaceit n o n ovasa , l vesse f sandstono l e wit a hrudel y hollowed cavity 6 inches by 4 inches, several broken stone vessels of similar character, and one or two quern stones. Skirza Head Broch.—The broc t Skirzha a Head, like thos t Nybsteea r and Ness, is situated on the neck of a promontory of the cliff jutting out t ofint cu fsea e fro d oditclana th e m,an th y d b h nearl fee0 y3 t wide. The broch has a circular wall 14 feet thick, enclosing an area 22 feet 6 inches in diameter. There is a scarcement about a foot thick, above whic e interioth h r diameter woul e abou b e d entranc feet5 2 Th t . e passag e sid thuth s i e n d lieswhico an s , S.Eh S. seao t y look. b t . ou s It is 14 feet in length, 3 feet wide at the exterior entrance, and has checks for a door at a distance of 8 feet from the exterior; beyond these it widens about 6 inches 011 each side, but the sides are not quite straight and the interior aperture is narrowed to about 3 feet. The height of the wall remaining is scarcely more than 4 feet all round. At a distance of 16 feet round the interior wall to the left of the main entrance is the entrance to the stair in the thickness of the wall with a small chamber NOTICE NINF SO E BROCKS ALON E CAITHNESTH G S COAST5 14 .

iii the usual position opposite the stair-foot. This entrance is 2 feet 7 inches in width. The stair is gone, hut the remains of two steps are still traceable lengte e chambeth Th f .he o stair-foo n fronth i r- f o un t s i t certain, onl ye side-wall parth f o t s remainin entrancee th t ga . Between exterioe th maie th d f nan o r walt i l ther larga s ei e oblong tank-like con- struction of four slabs set in the floor of what would otherwise have been a passage outwards. Insid e maie are th eth n froni a nf o tentranc e doorwa fireplaca s yi e compose f foudo flooe redg n th slabo r n t ei lik sse e a tank, but filled with ashes. At the opposite side of the area are two similar construction e floorth ,n i s abou 4 feet t long 3 fee, t wided an , 18 inches deep. hroce Th places i h neao e s margide norther th rth f o n ne th sid f o e promontory tha a portiot s exterioit f o n r wal than o l t sids falleha e n ove e cliffth r , wit he outbuilding th par f o t e samth e eth n so siden O . other side the outbuildings include an irregularly-shaped chamber or well about ten feet in depth, which still retains water. e outbuildingsth f o e Inon , partl e yremain e th wallbuil th n o f ,t o s on the north side of this broch, was found a palmated horn of the true Elk (Alces malchis). The other objects found were of the usual character, including several socket-stone e pivotth r f doorso sfo s o oblontw ,d an g two round stone vessels made of unshaped boulders with cavities roughly hewn in their upper sides, two quern stones, several flat circular disc f slatso y ston f variouo e s numbea sizes d an ,f hammer-stoneo r r o s oblong pebbles wasted at the ends by use.

The evidence derived from a comparison of the results of Sir Francis Barry's excavations with thos f previouo e s investigations goes ratheo t r confirm than to extend in any great measure our knowledge.of the structure d content n certaii e an brochs th t f Ye no s .direction itemw ne s s have been added to the sum of that knowledge. To the list of the locally extinct fauna of theCaithnessbrochs, which previouslyincludedtheEeindeer and the Great Auk, Sir Francis Barry has added the Elk and possibly the Brown Bear. The curious discovery in three of the Keiss brochs VOL. xxxv. K

NOTICES OF NINE BROCHS ALONG THE CAITHNESS COAST. 147

of shore-rolled quartz pebbles (figpainte) 22 . d with spot lined a an sn i s brownish-black pigment, adds a new feature to the interest of the broch relics suggestd an , s comparison wit stile hth l more curious serie similaf so r pebbles painted with a red pigment which have been disinterred by M. Piette in the cavern of Mas d'Azil and elsewhere. Some features of situation, construction, and association not previously recorded in con- nection wit e brochth h f Caithneso s s have also been disclosede Th . situation on the necks of cliff promontories fortified by a ditch, as at Ness and Skirza Head, or further strengthened by a fore-work inside the ditch as at Nybster, is a peculiar feature, while the situation on sand-hills like those at Wester and Freswick Sands is no less peculiar. The features of construction ,e casin e outesucth th s f ha gro wall circulae th , r fore-court, the square-cut openings in the slabs forming the openings to the chambers in the interior wall, and the massive encircling wall of circumvallation of e Roath d Broch, givcharactea t ei s own it f ,o r sharee th s a d r onlyfa o s , encircling wall is concerned, but on a very much less massive scale, by the Wester Broch e occurrencTh . n closi e e association wit e brochhth t sa Wester, Keiss, White Gate, and Eoad Broch of rectangular buildings, apparentl f lateo y r datet constructebu , d without mortar, raisee th s interesting question of what kind of buildings were the direct successor brochse th f so . It does not lie within the scope of the purpose of this paper to discuss conjectura e brochr origio th e f lo n sag theorie apare th tf o sfro e mth scientific evidence affordee structureth y b dd thei an s r contentse Th . structur itselfy eb , considered with referenc s functioit o t purposeed an n , wit s interioit h r arrangement roun s e chamberscourit th df o t , stairs, galleries, and windows, is obviously by far the most advanced of all the forms of dry-built structure known to us, superior both in design and con- structio othey an rno t typ stonf eo e fortalice of prehistoric times. Naturally, therefore, if its characteristics are to have any influence in the determina- seriese placs th tioit f n t musi nei o , assignee b t advancen t a o dno t d dan to a primitive stage of the development of constructions in stone built without mortar. So far as the archaeological period of the brochs is 8 14 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F O S , FEBRUARY 11, 1901.

indicated by the relics recovered from them, their testimony is direct and conclusive. Eude as many of them are, mere rudeness is no criterion of antiquity and no indication of the period to which they may belong. The types of implements -which are truly characteristic of the Stone and Bronze Ages, do not occur among the relics which have been obtained from brochs. On the other hand, a large proportion of these relics are clearly assignabl e Latth eo e t Celti c period ,bronze sucth s ha e tweezers froe mth broch of Kettleburn, the bronze tankard handle from Okstrow, the bronze knobs from the broch of Harray, and the enamelled bronze objects and harness mounting fro broce mth Torwoodlef ho Romae th o t e nr ; o period , as the Roman coins from the broch of Lingrow, the Samian ware from the broch Burrayf so , Okstrow Romae th d Keiss an ,d nan ,potter glasd yan s from the broch of Torwoodlee. The most characteristic of all the broch relics is the long-handled comb which has been found in nearly every broch opened. These long-handled combs have also been founn i d Late Celtic associations in the entrenchment at Hunsbury, and in the lake-village at G-lastonbury, and quite recently two of them were found e Romath n i n statio t Camelonna , Stirlingshire. Fro e converginmth g evidenc f theso e e Late Celti d Romaan c n objects s cleai t i r, thae th t occupation of the brochs dates back at least to the Late Celtic and Roman Late th periods es a Celti d an ,c period commence e Soutth f n Engdi o h - land some considerable time befor Romae th e n invasion Scotlann i d an , d was contemporary wit e Romahth n occupation t seemi , s most likely that e uniquth ee broc th typ f ho e structur s origie it th hav y d n ni ma e ha e civilisatio Late th ef n o Celti c period.