Accessibility

Font Size

100% 150% 200%

Background Colour

Default Contrast
Close Reset

Skelberry

Broch (Iron Age)(Possible)

Site Name Skelberry

Classification Broch (Iron Age)(Possible)

Canmore ID 538

Site Number HU31NE 5

NGR HU 3907 1642

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/538

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

Toggle Aerial | View on large map

Digital Images

Administrative Areas

  • Council Shetland Islands
  • Parish Dunrossness
  • Former Region Shetland Islands Area
  • Former District Shetland
  • Former County Shetland

Archaeology Notes

HU31NE 5 3907 1642.

(Area: HU 390 163) To the west of the road at Skelberry there is a group of three houses, the northernmost of which is built upon a large grassy mound. Remains of massive walling and wall-faces suggesting chambers have been revealed by casual digging in the mound and on the surface, near the centre, there is a stone box constructed of four slabs with a fifth for the bottom, 1ft 11ins long by 1ft 8ins broad and deep. Relics found include a non-rotary quern, a pot lid, hammer-stones and probable loom-weights.

The remains and objects found suggest that the mound covers a broch but this must remain uncertain without excavation.

Digging in the slopes of the mound where they extend into the grounds of the neighbouring house have revealed a large mass of burnt stones characteristic of 'burnt mounds'. The stones are spread rather than heaped and in one section a layer of peaty soil was noticed, above which there was a stratum of burnt stones 1ft 6in thick. Broken hammer-stones were found among the burnt stones.

RCAHMS 1946, visited 1935.

At HU 3906 1642 a large amorphous mound, generally as described by RCAHMS, which probably conceals the remains of a broch. The owner of the adjoining house has discovered broch-like foundations which are now covered over. Two rim sherds of "neckband" pottery and some loom weights from this site are in Lerwick Museum.

Surveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS(RL) 9 May 1968.

Activities

Field Visit (20 July 1935)

Broch (probable), Skelberry. To the W. of the road at Skelberry there is a group of three houses, the northernmost of which is built upon a grass-grown knoll of considerable size. At various times implements and pieces of pottery have been found, while remains of massive walling and here and there wall-faces suggesting chambers have been seen by the occupier when digging into the mound. On the surface near the centre of the knoll there is a stone box constructed of four slabs set on edge with a fifth forming the bottom. It is 1 ft. 11 in. long, 1 ft. 8 in. broad, and 1 ft. 8 in. deep. The relics found include a non-rotary quern, a pot lid, hammer-stones, and holed stones that were probably loom weights. These finds and the structural remains suggest that the mound may be the site of a broch, but this can only be stated with reserve in the absence of data yielded by scientific exploration.

The slopes of the mound extend into the grounds of the adjoining house. Here the ground has been dug into for a length of 12 ft. or more, and a large mass of burnt stones such as are characteristic of ‘burnt mounds’ is exposed. The stones are spread rather than heaped and in one section a layer of peaty soil was noticed, above which there was a stratum of burnt stones 1 ft . 6 in. thick. Broken hammer-stones were found among the burnt stones.

RCAHMS 1946, visited 20 July 1935.

Not noted on OS 6" map, Shetland, 2nd ed.

Publication Account (2002)

HU31 6 SKELBERRY

HU/391164

Possible broch in Dunrossness, a grass grown knoll (now supporting a house) which has at various times yielded traces of massive walling, and wall faces suggesting chambers, as well as potsherds (including neck-band ware [1]) and implements including a saddle quern ('non rotary'), a pot-lid and possible stone loom weights [2].

Sources: 1. OS card HU 31 NE 5: 2. RCAHMS 1946, vol. 3, no. 1151, 33.

E W MacKie 2002

References

MyCanmore Image Contributions


Contribute an Image

MyCanmore Text Contributions