The ruined broch at Dun Bhuirgh, Mealabost, North West Lewis, Outer Hebrides. Western Isles, Scotland. SCO 6231
A Broch is an Iron Age drystone hollow-walled structure of a type found only in Scotland. Brochs include some of the most sophisticated examples of drystone architecture ever created, and belong to the classification "complex Atlantic Roundhouse" devised by Scottish archaeologists in the 1980s. About half a mile north of Melbost Borve lie the ruins of the prehistoric broch Dun Bhuirgh, which may be the origin of the name Borgh, which means "fort". At its highest point, the broch's stone wall rises to a height of about 8 feet on the south western side. In 1781 Dun Bhuirgh was a heap of ruins. The dun was circular in plan, or drystone masonry, internal diameter 30ft and with walls 11ft thick. "There appear to have been seven bee-hive cells in the thickness of the walls" and also a large cell which was entered from the central area. Dun Borve - broch: so much destroyed that the outline is only partly discernible. Nowhere is it more than 4ft high, and the chambers and openings in the walls are indistinct. The plan, though generally circular, is slightly flattened at the SW, the internal diameter averages 31ft 6 ins, and the walls vary from 9ft to 10ft 6 ins in thickness. Evidence of at least six cells is visible, together with one or more galleries. A short section of scarcement, about 20 ins above the present ground level, can be seen. Small sherds of kitchen-midden pottery found among shells and refuse in the wall-passage immediately above the scarcement level in Borve broch were presented to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland
Size: 3732px × 5619px
Location: Mealabost, Siadar, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Highland. Scotland.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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