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<< Our Photo Pages >> Clachtoll Broch - Broch or Nuraghe in Scotland in Highlands

Submitted by lynswan on Monday, 11 December 2017  Page Views: 22165

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Clachtoll Broch
Country: Scotland County: Highlands Type: Broch or Nuraghe
Nearest Town: Lochinver  Nearest Village: Stoer
Map Ref: NC03652785  Landranger Map Number: 15
Latitude: 58.195611N  Longitude: 5.342486W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
2 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
3 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
4

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43559959 would like to visit

PMorris visited on 7th Sep 2016 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 4 Access: 3 First visited in 1963, but now again in 2016. Atmospheric site; good walk from Clachtoll carpark; some interpretative material in the Rangers' hut.

megalithicmatt visited on 23rd Jun 2011 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 4 Access: 3 Been up here a couple of times, first in a downpour and the second in the sun! There is an ancient drystane dyke running out of Clachtoll near the broch. The broch itself is a bit of a mess but a good visit all the same.

Andy B have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 2 Ambience: 4 Access: 3

Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by dodomad : Sickle from Clachtoll. As used by Getafix? Photo Credit: Historic Assynt (Vote or comment on this photo)
This place would be well worth a visit even if there were no broch here, especially if you can watch the sunset. I like to imagine the lives of the people who lived in it's protection but the really great thing about this site is it's ocean views, ideal for watching sea birds, seals and maybe even a bottle nosed dolphin.

It's also an interesting spot for geologists. The broch itsself has rather tumbled down but it has recently been stabilised so poses no danger, although you should probably refrain from climbing on it. There's a car park by the beach, a ranger's hut, old salmon bothy, now a museum, a memorial to Rev Norman McLeod... what more could you want. I'd recommend bringing some bird watching binoculars

It's not a difficult walk but can be a bit rough underfoot and is often very windy.

Note: Amazing finds from the Clachtoll Broch excavations, including a knocking stone (for threshing), three sickles, a saw, an axe, seven querns, a copper and bone pins, combs, spindle whorls, spoons, lamps etc etc - more in the comments on our page
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Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by megalithicmatt : The ruins of the broch between Stoer and Clachtoll, seen from the north. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by lynswan : And this shows the entrance with large triangular lintel. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by nosas : Image of Clachtoll Broch 3d Model by James McComas, mid excavation July 2017. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by Andy B : Heaving huge stones around the broch Image copyright AOC Archaeology (Vote or comment on this photo)

Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by lynswan : Looking inside the broch entrance. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by nosas : Image of Clachtoll Broch 3D Model Sept 2017 by James McComas

Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by nosas

Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by nosas

Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by nosas : Image of Clachtoll Broch 3d Model by James McComas, mid excavation July 2017.

Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by nosas

Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by Andy B : Pieta Graves' fake stone. Yes, that one, propping up the lintel. Good, isn't it! Image copyright AOC Archaeology

Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by Andy B : Huge rocks in the inner wall fractured as the tower collapsed. Image copyright AOC Archaeology

Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by lynswan : Broch from the back, South. This shows a large amount of big stones which used to be the walls.

Clachtoll Broch
Clachtoll Broch submitted by lynswan : Photo of Clachtoll Broch showing the entrance and large triangular lintel stone over the doorway.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 71m SE 132° Clachtoll Stone Circle* Stone Circle (NC037278)
 3.0km N 355° Loch Na Claise Crannog (NC03543082)
 12.7km E 100° Loch Assynt Crannog (NC1603225018)
 12.7km SSE 164° Inverpolly Stone Fort or Dun (NC06611551)
 14.2km S 185° Brae of Achnahaird Stone Fort or Dun (NC01701380)
 14.2km ENE 65° An Dun (Loch Ardbhair)* Broch or Nuraghe (NC16893324)
 19.0km ENE 68° Kylestrome Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (NC217341)
 19.8km E 94° Allt Sgiathaig* Chambered Cairn (NC23412552)
 19.9km NE 38° Cnoc An Daimh* Chambered Cairn (NC1667342937)
 20.8km E 99° Ardvreck* Chambered Cairn (NC24142371)
 20.9km S 179° Achlochan Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (NC029069)
 23.2km ESE 102° Carrachan Dubh Chambered Cairn (NC26102176)
 24.4km SE 128° Glacbain* Cairn (NC2231112011)
 24.6km SE 124° Cam Loch B Chambered Cairn (NC23431314)
 24.6km SE 124° Cam Loch A Cairn (NC23501312)
 25.2km ESE 120° Ledbeg River* Chambered Cairn (NC24891411)
 25.5km ESE 112° Allt nan Uamh Bone Caves* Cave or Rock Shelter (NC268170)
 25.5km SE 125° Ledmore* Chambered Cairn (NC23821215)
 26.2km NE 41° Badnabay* Chambered Cairn (NC218468)
 27.5km SE 124° Loch Borralan Crannog* Crannog (NC25741138)
 27.9km SE 124° Loch Borralan West* Chambered Cairn (NC2603811142)
 28.0km ESE 124° Loch Borralan East* Chambered Cairn (NC26241118)
 28.0km SSE 162° Dun Canna* Stone Fort or Dun (NC11160080)
 28.3km ESE 124° Altnacealgach* Chambered Cairn (NC2652811033)
 28.9km SSE 151° An Dun, Strath Canaird Stone Fort or Dun (NC16530196)
View more nearby sites and additional images

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"Clachtoll Broch" | Login/Create an Account | 14 News and Comments
  
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Re: Clachtoll Broch by stonetramp on Thursday, 14 December 2017
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The broch is fascinating but I want to see all those artifacts that were found. Where can I see photos of these?

Colleen
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Clachtoll Broch by Anonymous on Sunday, 17 December 2017
    I want to see the finds too, please tell us how.
    [ Reply to This ]

Clachtoll Broch 2017 Excavation Update by Andy B on Monday, 11 December 2017
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Dave McBain from Historic Assynt writes: Three months ago, I was asked to write a piece on the Clachtoll excavation (see the post here https://nosasblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/17/clachtoll-broch-excavations-2017-the-first-month/ ), and when I was asked to do a follow up, I thought it would be best to have a look back and see where to start from. That was a revelation. When I penned the last piece, we were a month in, enjoying every minute and let’s be brutally honest – not finding too many artefacts.

As time went on, we dug deeper, the finds became more frequent – much more frequent and in amongst it all, a mini dig on top of the Split Rock and the creation of a corbelled cell (soon, we hope, to be otter holt) made for a fantastic summer.

So much to share, so few words – so let’s not waste any more.

I suggested that the occupants may have had sheep or goats in my last blog report – we can confirm those sheep, from some of the bones found. Curiously, if a good few years later, Ptolemy’s map of Scotland listed the people of the North West as Caereni – or “sheep people”. I can only wonder if it was those same Caereni who built the Broch?

There were also cattle, pig, deer, whale, seal and possibly boar bones recovered on the site. I am pleased however, to report that to the best of my knowledge, no human bones came from the site, so we can hope our Caereni survived the collapse.

Clachtoll has turned out to be something amazing. Although several hundred brochs were built around Scotland, most it seems, fell gradually out of use before being abandoned. Finding another that collapsed dramatically in the iron age is a bit like searching for hens’ teeth. What we uncovered this summer was a two thousand year old time capsule. One has to wonder if one of the thousand plus visitors to the site was H.G. Wells time traveller looking for an update?

Perhaps the headline find was a rather amazing knocking stone, which is something I have only previously seen in some African tribal art. Essentially a large stone with a hole in the middle where a stick could be used for pounding the husks off the outside of barley before it is ground. Interesting enough in itself, but with a hole almost a foot deep and filled to the brim with burned grain, it was an amazing headliner made even more unique in that it appeared to be set into a stone and clay counter to enable working at a comfortable waist level. Wear on the right side may even give a clue as to the user being right-handed.

Read more at
https://nosasblog.wordpress.com/2017/12/05/clachtoll-broch-excavations-2017-part-two/
With thanks to Cosmic for the link.
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Re: Clachtoll Broch by nosas on Thursday, 21 September 2017
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Clachtoll Broch, Assynt Sep 2017 Late Excavation
by jamesmcc
on Sketchfab


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Re: Clachtoll Broch by nosas on Sunday, 13 August 2017
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Clachtoll Broch, Assynt Mid Excavation July 2017
by jamesmcc
on Sketchfab


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£3m drive to unearth Iron Age secrets in Highlands by Andy B on Monday, 11 November 2013
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The secrets of a remote Iron Age Highland broch more than 2,000 years old could soon be unearthed, thanks to £3 million Lottery funding to conserve one of the remotest parts of Europe.

The grant is aimed at preserving the landscape of Coigach-Assynt and will go towards a number of projects, including the excavation of Clachtoll Broch. It was a local centre of power in the Iron Age constructed around 300BC on the north-west coast and is believed to have collapsed while still occupied.

It is hoped the work at the broch’s remains will uncover “occupational artefacts” never seen since the day it crumbled.

Gordon Sleight, chairman of Historic Assynt, said: “Unlike most brochs from that time, this one was subject to a dramatic collapse, which we believe happened while it was still in occupational use.” Brochs were numerous in the north and west in Iron Age Scotland and many continued in use well into the first millennium AD, going through many changes in form.

The Clachtoll Broch is believed to have collapsed between 150BC and 50AD and there is every reason to believe that below the tonnes of rubble in the interior is a complete Iron Age occupation layer undisturbed since the tower fell.

Mr Sleight said: “As most brochs continued to be used much later than the Iron Age, and many were later dismantled, items from this time were not commonly left behind.

“Assuming this was occupied at the moment of the collapse, then an excavation would provide a unique opportunity to see how people back then lived.”

Mr Sleight said the broch could have stood around 13 metres in height, almost as tall as the famous Mousa Broch in Shetland, one of the best preserved in the world. He added: “An excavation would give us a clearer picture of what happened, but the most likely theory is a part of a wall nearer to the sea gave way and collapsed. When one section of a circular tower falls, the rest will follow quickly.”

He said the funding announced by the Heritage Lottery Fund towards conserving the landscape of Coigach-Assynt would help with the excavation and preservation work.

More in The Scotsman
http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/3m-drive-to-unearth-iron-age-secrets-in-highlands-1-3163842
and see also
http://www.historicassynt.co.uk/ and http://www.aocarchaeology.com/assyntfireandwater/
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Evidence of rebuilding in the Pictish period by Andy B on Tuesday, 06 December 2011
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From the blog:
Just had word from Graeme about the Hazel charcoal samples from the scarcement ledge of the Broch. They have been dated to between 153 BC and 55 AD. This strongly suggests that the Broch collapsed and was abandoned in the middle Iron Age and has had no significant interference since then. In turn that strengthens the case for John Barber’s suggestion that the entrance rebuild was in the Pictish period, designed by way of homage to the original builder and associating the repairer with the builder/ancestor and that the rebuild never went higher than what survives still.

Even more significantly the dates imply that there are probably largely intact, undisturbed iron age deposits in the chambers and especially under the tumble in the courtyard and outside the tower, which could give us a huge amount of info about the Broch’s period of occupation.

More at
http://www.aocarchaeology.com/ldap/project-diary/
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Clachtoll dating evidence comes back as late Iron Age by Andy B on Wednesday, 23 November 2011
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Twigs suggest Assynt site 'genuine Iron Age broch'

Radiocarbon dating of burnt twigs found inside an ancient building in Assynt suggest its interior remained untouched after it was built in the Iron Age.

Brochs were often modified during later periods of use. One at Nybster in Caithness has evidence of possible Pictish and medieval occupation.

The dating of twigs possibly used for woven mats points to the Assynt site remaining unaltered until it collapsed.

The broch at Clachtoll was built using stones weighing up to 100kg each.

Archaeologists involved in a community project called Life and Death in Assynt's Past had expected the burnt wood to date from AD 300 to AD 1000, during the building's final phase of occupation.

However, tests at AOC Archaeology's laboratory in Midlothian dated it to 111 BC and AD 55, suggesting generations of families left the interior unaltered from the time it was created.

A spokeswoman for the project said: "The possibility that we have a genuine Iron Age broch interior, untrammelled by later modification of admixture, is very exciting indeed."

Source: BBC News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-15719750
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Clachtoll Broch 2011 dig diary by Andy B on Thursday, 25 August 2011
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Mandy writes: Three weeks ago, the broch was just a big jumbled heap of stones. Now it is a big jumbled marvel of stones. Here are three of the marvels.

Firstly, some of the broch stones are now not stones. Pieta has made a very convincing wedge to prop up one of the lintels, inside the entrance passage way, replacing the extremely ugly pillar of stone that had been put there sometime in the past. Pieta’s stone is a fake, made of steel, epoxy glue and sand. I don’t recall ever having met a fake stone before. I hope future generations of archaeologists are as awed as I am.

Secondly, many of the stones used to build the broch are Muckle Great Chuckies. They are at the limit of what ordinary people could move. I spent some time today watching four big guys tug a big stone, and I concluded that the broch builders were braw chaps. Either that or they had heavy lifting gear. Or perhaps both.

Thirdly, not only are the stones heavy, they are many. Very, very many. John Barber has calculated that there are 1600 tonnes of stones tumbled inside the broch. And many stones to the tonne. Sadly, at this stage, we must leave them there.

And underneath them, many mysteries remain.
Follow the rest of the dig diary (which is very expertly and entertainingly written) at
http://www.aocarchaeology.com/ldap/project-diary/
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Clachtoll Broch dig by MikeAitch on Thursday, 25 August 2011
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'Enormous force' collapsed Iron Age broch in Assynt

Archaeologists are trying to understand how and when a 2,000-year-old building called a broch in the north west Highlands was left in ruins.

The outer wall of the Iron Age tower was constructed using stones weighing up to 100kg each.

The broch, today a huge pile of rubble, may have been up to 13m (42ft) high.

John Barber, lead archaeologist at the dig at Clachtoll in Assynt, said "enormous force" would have been needed to shift the stonework.

He said: "Engineering calculations will give us more accurate measurements of the tower, and we found radiocarbon datable material among the rubble which could give us a date for the collapse.

"We also see that the building has been remodelled and reworked, but without further excavation we cannot know when or by whom."

Bones, pottery shards and charcoal have been dug up during the excavation, and will be taken for analysis.

Group Historic Assynt believe Clachtoll broch was built and occupied by a sophisticated maritime culture stretching up to the Northern Isles and out to the Hebrides at a time before the Roman conquest of southern Britain.

The tower may have been seen by ancient Greek geographer Pytheas during his circumnavigation of Britain.

Remains of brochs have also been excavated in Caithness and on the Northern Isles.

Historic Assynt is planning further excavations at other sites - a Neolithic chambered cairn at Loch Borralan and a pre-Clearance longhouse in Glenleraig.

BBC News article with photo
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Scotland's Places by Andy B on Thursday, 02 September 2010
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This broch measures 16.1m in overall diameter. The internal diameter can only be measured above the rubble which fills the interior to above scarcement level. Here it is 9.7m, and the wall varies between 3.1m and 3.4m in width, but at ground level at the entrance the wall is 4.2m thick, suggesting an internal diameter of about 8.0m. The entrance passage is accessible and shows two upright slabs for door jambs 1.7m along it. Behind them are the bar holes and the entrances to two guard chambers each 3.7m long.

There is an opening into the broch interior from the rear of the N guard chamber. There is what may be a later forework immediately in front of the broch entrance, and traces of a probably secondary building, both of which are mainly masked by debris. The entrance passage through the outwork shows two upright blocks, probably jambs, about 4.0m along it, and there are suggestions that a passage or corridor led on from them towards the broch entrance, but debris prevents a true assessment of this. The alleged outwork 100 yds distant is a combination of outcrop and cleared stones.

More at Scotland's Places
http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/search_item/index.php?service=RCAHMS&id=4499
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Re: Clachtoll Broch by lynswan on Friday, 13 June 2008
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I will soon be back here, in one of the most beautiful locations I have found and will post a photo when I return.
This place would be well worth a visit even if there were no broch here, especially if you can watch the sunset. There's a car park by the beach, a ranger's hut, old salmon bothy, now a museum, a memorial to Rev Norman McLeod.... what more could you want.
The broch itsself has rather tumbled down but it has recently been stabilised so poses no danger, although you should probably refrain from climbing on it. I like to imagine the lives of the people who lived in it's protection but the really great thing about this site is it's ocean views, ideal for watching sea birds, seals and maybe even a bottle nosed dolphin and an interesting spot for geologists as well as geomancers. It's not a difficult walk but can be a bit rough underfoot and is often very windy.
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Re: Clachtoll Broch by lynswan on Friday, 13 June 2008
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Condition:2
Ambience:3
Access:3
Accuracy:
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