Brochs, are found only in the West of Scotland, mainly Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, where suitable stone was readily available. A fort, a fortified house, a status symbol. the jury is out, but one thing seems to be agreed on, they were certainly the tallest buildings to be found.
Looking a bit like a cooling tower, its built of dry stone, and is double skinned, at Dun Carloway you can crawl through and scramble around between the two skins, and admire the handy work of skilled builders ( health and safety and preservation concerns seemed a little more laid back on the outer islands, than we’ve found elsewhere in Scotland).
Take a look inside
More modern local buildings are a little more modest, but will they still be standing in 2000 years time?.
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July 22, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Well, that’s interesting. It’s not what you’d expect to see in those parts, especially from the second century BC. I thought crofts all crouched low to resist the wind. These look like early tower blocks. Fascinating.
July 22, 2019 at 1:37 pm
They are more than sturdy! And they didn’t have any windows to let the drafts in! I think the climate was kinder then too.
July 22, 2019 at 6:51 pm
Interesting post and pictures. xx
July 22, 2019 at 10:07 pm
I always like the confident reconstructions of these old buildings which appear on information boards or guidebooks.
July 24, 2019 at 9:49 am
Historians perhaps feel the need to deliver facts rather than artists impressions!