314 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, JUNE 11, 1877. IX. NOTES ON THE STRUCTURE, DISTRIBUTION, AND CONTENTS OF THE BROCHS, 'WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE QUESTION OF THEIR CELTIC OR NORWEGIAN ORIGIN. By JOSEPH ANDERSON, KBEPEK OF THE MUSEUM. (PLATES XIX., XX.) In this paper I propose to review the evidence derived from considera- tions of the structural characteristics, the geographical range, and the content e Brochsth f o s , with special referenc e questionth o t e f theio s r origin, and their relation to the groups of structural antiquities with which they are associated in northern Scotland. Exterior e BrocVieth f wf Monsao ho , Shetland. typicae Th e lBroch forth f m o hollos thaa 1i f o t w circular towe f dryo r - built masonry, abou fee 0 diameten 6 ti t r arid about 50 feet high s wallIt . , measuremente 1Th s here give " e thoss na th typica f eo lbroele forth o t f mie o " ar be taken as approximate averages merely, and not those of any particular example. Ground-plans, sections, and elevations of many of these structures are given in e Broche paperth th n f o Shetlandso s , Orkney, Caithness d Sutherlanan , e th n i d " Archa3ologia Scotica," vol . parindebtev . m . 1873a i tMessre I th . o dt s Chambers for the view of Mousa here given. NOTES ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE BROCHS. 315 whicfee5 1 ts hi thick s carriei , soli p abour u d fo d feet8 t , except where two or three oblong chambers with rudely vaulted roofs, are constructed in its thickness.1 Abov e heighth e abouf o t fee8 te wal th ts carrie i l witp du hholloa w spac f aboueo fee3 t t wide betwee s exterioit n interiod an r r shell. This M ft Ground Plan of the Broch of Mousa, Shetland. (From Plan by Sir Henry Dryden.) hollow space, at about the height of a man, is crossed horizontally by a roof of slabs, the upper surfaces of which form the floor of the space above. This is repeated at about every 5 or 6 feet of its further height. These spaces thus form horizontal galleries, separated from each other vertically by the slabs of their floors and roofs. The galleries run accompanyine th e Se 1 g ground Brochplane th f sMouso f so a and Coldoch. 6 31 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , JUK , 1877E11 . completely roun e towerth d , except that the e crossee stairyar th y ,b d so that each gallery opens in front of the steps, and its further end is closed by the back of the staircase on the same level. (See Plate XIX.) e onlTh y e maie e th openintoweoutsidth th ns i f o ro t ge entrance a narro, w tunnel-like passag 5 fee 1 e6 fee tn i o tlongt 5 , height, and rarely more than 3 feet in width, leading straight through the wall on the ground level, and often flanked on either side by guard chambers opening into it. This gives access to the central area or court- e toweryarth f do , roun e inneth d r circumferenc f whicho e n differeni , t positions, are placed the entrances to the chambers on the ground-floor, and staircase toth e leadingalleriee th o gt ss externaaboveit n I . l aspece th t towe truncatea s i r d con f solieo d masonry, unpierce openiny an y db g save the narrow doorway; while the central court presents the aspect of a circular well 30 feet in diameter, bounded by a perpendicular wall1 50 feet highd presentinan , t ga interval thn o se ground floor severaw lo l and narrow doorways giving acceschambere th o st stair d an s , and above these ranges of small window-like openings rising perpendicularly over each other to admit light and air to the galleries. The concentration of effort towards the two main objects of space for shelte d completran e securit neves ywa r more strikingly exhibited than i these peculiar structures, which though rud construction ei admirable nar y designed for size, solidity, and complete defensibility. They present other feature f intereso s t in their surprising uniformit f desigyo construcd nan - tion, in the limited range of territory they occupy, and in their extra- ordinary numbers within that territory. They are entirely unknown out of Scotland, and in it they are chiefly though not exclusively confined to the territory north of the great Caledonian valley ; where upwards of 350 examples have been enumerated.2 They form a very important and remarkable grou f structurao p l antiquities, unparallele n numbei d d an r magnitude unrivalled an , interesn i d s disclosina t e existencth g t thaea t early period of an amount of energy and constructive skill of which we had previously no adequate conception. 1 While the exterior elevation shows a considerable " batter " or inclination, some- times approachin gcurvea d outline, like thaa lighthouse f o t e inneth , r elevatios ni nearer the perpendicular. Broch e e " th lis th y f Arohseologi o tm n si e Se 2 a Scotica, . 179-198" pp vol . v . Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. VOL. XII. PLATE XIX. Sectio e Elevatioth f ne o Broc th f Mousaf no ho . Section of the Elevation of Broeh in Glenelg. Section Elevatione th f so Brochf so Shetlann si Glenelgd dan . (From plans by Sir Henry Dryden.) 318 PitOCEKDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, JUNE 11, 1877. e typicaAth s l broch thus possesse n individualita s f structuro y o s e distinc peculiard an t difficulto n ,e therb defininn n i ye ca s geographicagit l range, for there is no building, ancient or modem which can by any possibility be confounded with it. Yet though the general features are so constant, the dimensions vary greatly1 as the following table will show:— Thickness Internal External Situation of Broch. of Wall. Diameter. Diameter. Feet. l-'eet. Feet. Edin's Hall, Cockburn Law, Berwickshire, . 17 56 90 Okstrow, Birsay, Orkney, .... 12 45 69 Lamb-head, Stronsay, Orkney, . 12 45 69 Cairn Liath, Dunrobin, Sutherland, 19 30 69 Brindister, Mainland, Shetland, . 121 43 68 Cinn Trolla, Sutherland, .... 18 31 67 Clickamin, Mainland, Shetland, . 20 26 66 East Broch, Burray, Orkney, 15 364 664 Tappock, Stirlingshire, .... 15 35 65 Craig Carrii, Sutherland, .... 17 30 64 Snabroch, Unst, Shetland, .... 18 27i 63i Burgar, Erie, Orkney, .... 17 26" 60 " Ingishow, Firth, Orkney, .... 13J 33 60 Birstane, St Ola, Orkney, .... 134 33 60 Howbie, Fetlar, Shetland, .... 124 33 58 How of Hoxay, S. Konaldsay, Orkney, 14 30 58 Dingishow t AndrewsS , , Orkney, 12 33 57 Burraness, Yell, Shetland, .... 15 27 57 Mans Harrayf eo , Mainland, Orkney. , 12 33 57 West Broch, Burray, Orkney, 12J 31 56 Yarhouse, Caithness, ..... 13 30 56 Old Stirkoke, Caithness, .... 13 30 56 West Burrafirth, Shetland, 13 30 56 Undahool, Unst, Shetland, 15 25f 55| Burraland, Mainland, Shetland. , 9 37 55 Castle Ellye, Glenbeg, Inverness, 11 33 55 Borrowston, Shapinsay, Orkney, 12 311 65J Dun Alisaig, Boss-shire, .... 12 30 54| Levenwick, Mainland, Shetland, 13 28i 54J Castle Troddan, Glenelg, Inverness, HI 29J 53 Broch, Unst, Shetland, .... 12 26 50 Culswick, Mainland, Shetland, 13 24f 50| Mousa, Shetland, ..... 141 20 49 Stirlingow, Firth, Orkney, 9 27 45 Cullswick, Shetland, ..... 17* 26J 44 West Burraflrth, Shetland, .... 13 30 43 Burraness, Yell, Shetland, 10 31 41 Langskaill, St Andrews, Orkney, 10 20 40 Castle Gruagaeh, Loch Duich, Ross-shire. , 9 25 34 Like the "eminent Scotch Antiquary " whom he once heard "gravely maintain- 1 STRUCTURE NOTETH BEOCHSE N SO TH F EO . 319 e Norwegiae theorth Th f o y n origie Brochs—th f no a theory first pro- pounde tima t da e when systematic observation begut appliede no b d no t sha , considere e ever b o o nt d necessary, elucidatiofoe th r sucf no h questions,s 1ha lately been revive maintained dan d with much ingenuit r Fergusson,M y yb 2 who contend provee b s n " dthaca witt i t s muca h h certaint s suca y ha questio capabls ni f attainingo e , that they wer l erectee Norweal eth y db - gians bule ninthe th f the, kth o mn i , tenth eleventd an , h centuries." The assertion that the Brochs are of Norwegian origin might be legitimately met by a simple denial, and this would be justified by the fact ing "(the gravity of a Scotch joke is proverbial), " that they were all built at one time, and from one plan and specification," Mr Fergusson, exaggerates the uniformity of the Broch structure, whe includo t extende s nh a o es dimensiot si wels n a designs a l . 1 Martin adopted this theor traditioye becausth nativese s th 'Cullocf wa n o M t ei . h went further, and affirmed that similar structures are found in Norway. Sir Walter Scott writere mosStatisticae d th th an f , f o t o s l Accounts, unhesitatingly pronounce them Scandinavian Scandinaviao n t Bu . n write eves rha r claimed wore theth ks ma of his countrymen. Worsaae and Munch both regard them as Celtic, and state that analogouo thern e ear s structure Scandinavian si . The work in which Mr James Fergusson, the well-known author of the " History of Architecture,2 " "Eude Stone Monument l Countries,al f o s " discusse&c.s ha , d this question is entitled " A Short Essay on the Age and Uses of the Brochs, and the Rude Stone Monument Orknee th f so y IslandNorte th d Scotland,f ho s an " 8vo, Lond.