Featured: Hare and Tabor T Shirts for discerning antiquarians

Hare and Tabor T Shirts for discerning antiquarians

Random Image


Hertelshaugen

Singing Up the Country: The Songlines of Avebury and Beyond

Singing Up the Country: The Songlines of Avebury and Beyond

Who's Online

There are currently, 469 guests and 3 members online.

You are a guest. To join in, please register for free by clicking here

Sponsors

<< Our Photo Pages >> Gurness - Broch or Nuraghe in Scotland in Orkney

Submitted by C_Michael_Hogan on Thursday, 14 January 2021  Page Views: 25938

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Gurness Alternative Name: Broch of Gurness
Country: Scotland County: Orkney Type: Broch or Nuraghe

Map Ref: HY3818926842  Landranger Map Number: 6
Latitude: 59.123900N  Longitude: 3.08149W
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
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
5 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.
4 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
5

Internal Links:
External Links:

I have visited· I would like to visit

coin whese001 hoya105 would like to visit

drolaf visited on 12th Jun 2022 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4

bishop_pam visited on 20th Apr 2018 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5

SandyG visited on 4th Jun 2015 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 5

Jansold visited on 5th Jun 2013 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4

markj99 visited on 10th Aug 2012 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 5 Access: 5 In most cases Antiquarians have to mentally reconstruct sites from several stones or grassy mounds. Gurness settlement is at the opposite end of the spectrum. There are multiple layers of occupancy preserved in an extensive network of stone walls representing exterior and interior features.

43559959 visited on 27th Oct 2011 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 4 Access: 5

JCBH visited on 1st Apr 2010 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4 Broch of Gurness

ladydi45 visited on 4th Jun 1998 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3

Tonnox visited on 15th Jul 1994 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 4

FrothNinja visited on 1st Nov 1986 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 5 Access: 4

Andy B: would like to visit Neil Oliver visits this classic broch from approx 600BC in BBC's History of Celtic Britain

Runemage visited The "well" is so intriguing http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=a312&file=index&do=showpic&pid=47934

PAB DrewParsons jeffrep C_Michael_Hogan Redfun have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3.5 Ambience: 4.4 Access: 4.3

Gurness
Gurness submitted by PAB : 4.45am, the beautiful glow lighting up the stones. Worth getting up for such an experience, only an hour's sleep lost, and so much gained! June 2016 (Vote or comment on this photo)
The Broch of Gurness is an imposing fort on the north shore of Mainland Orkney. Of classic drystone construction the Iron Age round tower fort is flanked by a number of ancillary structures and impressive concentric ditch and rampart outer defenses; moreover, the rocky shoreline cliffs posed an formidable approach for marine invaders.

Constructed in the first century AD, the broch and its associated village accommodated a population of about 40. This description is based upon my on site investigation of July, 2007 as well as analysis of extant literature.

ARCHITECTURE. The main tower retains a ruined height of up to 3.6 metres, with cells in the wall flanking guard chambers on both sides of the main entrance. Walls are up to 4.1 metres thick, and there would have been upper levels in the original broch, which originally was of conical or mildly hyperbolic pitched roof design topped with turf and supported with timber or whalebones. (Konstam, 2006); the use of a flanking guard chamber and the conical to hyperbolic shape is akin to other Orkney brochs such as Burroughston. (Hogan, 2007)

A "rabbit warren" of ancillary drystone residential structures surrounds the main tower and lies within the ring ramparts; these structures have been termed the most well preserved settlement adjoining any broch in Scotland. (Heritage, 2007) The broch is entered via a stone framed causeway on the eastern side, which is flanked by remains of some of the other residential dwellings Within the broch are massive vertical slabs that form separations within the living space; there is also a central hearth, water well and a quern. The existing ditch and rampart works are impressive, especially noting that historic siltation has reduced the original depths.

ROMAN AND NORSE CONNECTIONS. A Roman amphora dating to the first century AD was found within the broch itself. (Breeze, 2002) In the Orkney Islands numerous Pictish structures were adapted by Norse invaders, Gurness being one such instance. A tenth century AD female skeleton rife with Scandinavian brooches was excavated from an older rampart wall (RCAHMS, 1961). Several bronze rings were found on a severed hand found in a midden.(MacKie, 1971) Further Viking graves were uncovered on site with Norse artifacts of whetstone, a glass linen smoother, large jet bead and folding bronze balance.(Graham-Campbell, 1988) In addition, one of the largest of buildings on the site bears clear resemblance to the classic Norse hall architecture, although its provenance is unclear.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. The Broch of Gurness siting is consistent with other Iron Age brochs in the Orkney Islands. The choice of a rocky promontory with good views over Eynhallow Sound provides a sentinel position; in fact, the promontory of Point of Hellia commands a narrow passage of the sound only one kilometre from the island of Rousay. There is a sheltered enbayment sandy beach between the Point of Hellia and Grit Ness, which provided an inviting sea access to the early Picts and especially the seafaring Norsemen. To the south and east toward the hamlet of Aikerness unfold fertile grain fields that would have been tended by the Gurness Iron Age Pictish farmers.

REFERENCES
* Angus Konstam (2006) "Forts of Celtic Britain", Osprey Publishing, 64 pages, ISBN 184603064
* C. Michael Hogan (2007) ‘'Burroughston Broch'‘, the Megalithic Portal, ed. Andy Burnham
* The Heritage of the Orkney Islands: Broch of Gurness (2007)
* David John Breeze (2002) ‘'Historic Scotland: People and Places'‘, Sterling Publishing ISBN 0713486155
* RCAHMS 1946; J S Richardson 1948; V G Childe 1961
* E.W. MacKie, (1971) 'English migrants and Scottish brochs', Glasgow Archaeol J, 2, 1971, 69, 70,
* James Graham-Campbell and Colleen E. Batey (1988) ‘Vikings in Scotland: An Archaeological Survey'‘, Edinburgh University Press

(The above content was produced by C. Michael Hogan for the Megalithic Portal)

Note: The Brock of Gurness at midsummer dawn, more amazing photos on our page
You may be viewing yesterday's version of this page. To see the most up to date information please register for a free account.


Gurness
Gurness submitted by ShamrockStone : Gurness (Vote or comment on this photo)

Gurness
Gurness submitted by ericgrindle : Broch of Gurness DSC_8119 The Broch is a really peacefull place to sit, admire the view. Image copyright: Eric Grindle (Eric Grindle), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Gurness
Gurness submitted by SueS : The Broch of Gurness aerial photo from the west showing the 'causeway' part of the broch and the 'houses' around it on the eastern side Taken at 20-30 hrs on 6 June 2013 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Gurness
Gurness submitted by paulinelen : Difficult to work out exactly what the village would have looked like. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Gurness
Gurness submitted by SueS : The Broch of Gurness aerial photo from the west showing its position in relation to the sea Taken at 20-30 hrs on 6 June 2013

Gurness
Gurness submitted by SueS : The Broch of Gurness aerial photo from directly over the broch Taken at 20-30 hrs on 6 June 2013

Gurness
Gurness submitted by paulinelen : The broch and village looking out toward the sea.

Gurness
Gurness submitted by howar : S inner ditch & outer broch from the E.

Gurness
Gurness submitted by PAB : Waiting for dawn... 4.12am on 23rd June 2016, and sitting in this magical place waiting for the sun to rise over the hills opposite us on Rousay. The broch rises magnificently over some of the 14 houses which surround it. June 2016 (4 comments)

Gurness
Gurness submitted by freedomandpeace : Stones of the village around the broch and a beautiful turquoise sea

Gurness
Gurness submitted by paulinelen : Taken inside the broch.

Gurness
Gurness submitted by paulinelen : This place would be wonderful in any weather the bright sunshine was a bonus.

Gurness
Gurness submitted by paulinelen : The Broch in the spring sunshine.

Gurness
Gurness submitted by DrewParsons : A view from the settlement towards Rousay Island. September 2010.

Gurness
Gurness submitted by ShamrockStone : Gurness

Gurness
Gurness submitted by ShamrockStone

Gurness
Gurness submitted by SandyG : The "Shamrock House". View from south east. (4th June 2015).

Gurness
Gurness submitted by Energyman : Part of the village around the Broch, near the entrance as you come in.

Gurness
Gurness submitted by PAB : 4.47am. It is of course important to remember the occupants will never have actually seen their village like this! The small matters of walls, roofs, smoke etc will have got in the way - but that didn't occur to me at the time... June 2016

Gurness
Gurness submitted by pasckal : Personal view of the megalith

Gurness
Gurness submitted by 43559959 : Early winter in the Broch of Gurness

Gurness
Gurness submitted by howar : Looking down on N quadrant.

Gurness
Gurness submitted by DrewParsons : Detail of the inner walls of the broch. September 2010.

Gurness
Gurness submitted by DrewParsons : The entrance to the broch. Its main door was hinged on two swivel stones, one of which (the lower one on the left of the extrance) still exists. September 2010.

These are just the first 25 photos of Gurness. If you log in with a free user account you will be able to see our entire collection.

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.
Click here to see more info for this site

Nearby sites

Click here to view sites on an interactive OS map

Key: Red: member's photo, Blue: 3rd party photo, Yellow: other image, Green: no photo - please go there and take one, Grey: site destroyed

Download sites to:
KML (Google Earth)
GPX (GPS waypoints)
CSV (Garmin/Navman)
CSV (Excel)

To unlock full downloads you need to sign up as a Contributory Member. Otherwise downloads are limited to 50 sites.

Stone Pages (Still Images) by Arosio and Meozzi
Stone Pages Tour by Arosio and Meozzi

Ancient Sites Directory by Chris Tweed


Turn off the page maps and other distractions

Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 12m NW 311° Aikerness Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (HY38182685)
 1.6km NE 38° Viera Lodge Broch or Nuraghe (HY392281)
 1.8km W 266° Knowe of Stenso* Broch or Nuraghe (HY3639426747)
 1.8km S 191° Quoys Chambered Cairn Chambered Cairn (HY37822507)
 2.0km ENE 71° Knowe of Burrian (Frotoft)* Broch or Nuraghe (HY40062745)
 2.0km S 184° Redland South* Chambered Cairn (HY38002484)
 2.1km NE 56° Knowe of Lairo* Chambered Cairn (HY39922796)
 2.1km N 5° Westness Chambererd Tomb* Chambered Tomb (HY38402898)
 2.2km ENE 57° Knowe of Ramsay* Chambered Cairn (HY40042800)
 2.3km ENE 72° Langstane (Orkney)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HY404275)
 2.5km ENE 63° Knowe of Yarso* Chambered Cairn (HY40482795)
 2.6km W 279° Knowe of Grugar* Broch or Nuraghe (HY35642730)
 2.7km SE 135° Ness of Woodwick* Broch or Nuraghe (HY40072487)
 2.9km W 272° Grugar* Carving (HY353270)
 2.9km NNW 346° Knowe of Swandro* Chambered Cairn (HY37532966)
 3.1km NNW 343° Knowe of Rowiegar* Chambered Cairn (HY37332978)
 3.1km WNW 285° Burgar* Broch or Nuraghe (HY352277)
 3.3km E 82° Knowe of Hunclett* Broch or Nuraghe (HY41442722)
 3.3km ENE 76° Blackhammer* Chambered Tomb (HY41422761)
 3.5km WNW 285° West Broch of Burgar* Chambered Cairn (HY34822782)
 3.6km SSE 152° Knowe of Midgarth* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY39812361)
 3.8km NNW 344° Midhowe Chambered Cairn* Chambered Cairn (HY37223051)
 3.9km NNW 344° Midhowe Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HY372306)
 4.0km NNW 343° North Howe Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HY3705130722)
 4.4km E 79° Taversoe Tuick* Chambered Cairn (HY42572761)
View more nearby sites and additional images

<< Granhogen

Ridgeway Hill >>

Please add your thoughts on this site

Neolithic Britain And Ireland

Neolithic Britain And Ireland

Web Links for Gurness

Stone Pages (Still Images) by Arosio and Meozzi
Stone Pages Tour by Arosio and Meozzi

Archived Web links for Gurness

Ancient Sites Directory by Chris Tweed

Sponsors

Auto-Translation (Google)

Translate from English into:

"Gurness" | Login/Create an Account | 11 News and Comments
  
Go back to top of page    Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Re: Gurness by MGDineley on Saturday, 23 January 2021
(User Info | Send a Message)
The wife and I visited here on 3d Jan 2021, the little building by the visitor hut not only has a tank of about 10gallons but also a low shelf beside it. We think it is a brew-house. I would add a picture, but I cannot see how to.
Here is a link to Viking brew-houses:
https://exarc.net/issue-2013-2/ea/where-were-viking-brew-houses
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Gurness by Runemage on Saturday, 23 January 2021
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    Hello MGDineley, you asked how to add a picture

    Look at the top right of this page, the section headed 'Contribute' and highlighted in yellow.

    it says :-

    Contribute!
    · NEW: I have visited
    · I would like to visit
    · Submit an Image
    · Add a description
    · Give accurate position
    · Add a comment or news about this site

    You click 'Submit an Image' and follow the instructions.

    Looking forward to seeing your photos :-)
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Gurness by ShamrockStone on Monday, 02 April 2018
(User Info | Send a Message)
Accurate coordinates: 59.123900N, 3.081430W (taken by GPS) [updated]
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Gurness by coldrum on Saturday, 03 April 2010
(User Info | Send a Message)
Street View


View Larger Map
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Gurness by Anonymous on Wednesday, 11 November 2009
The sources quoted generally agree the broch was abandoned around 100AD, not built then. Most brochs seem to have been abandoned around that date. Your sources (what is the link to the community website for?) agree also. Your research (if you did any) seems to be seriously flawed. Why do you consistently refer to it as a "promontory fort" in Wkipedia?
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Gurness by coldrum on Wednesday, 20 February 2008
(User Info | Send a Message)
Historic Scotland link:

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/properties_sites_detail?propertyID=PL_041
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Gurness by C_Michael_Hogan on Saturday, 01 December 2007
(User Info | Send a Message)
Condition:3
Ambience:5
Access:4
Accuracy:4
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Gurness by stonetramp on Monday, 25 June 2007
(User Info | Send a Message)
I LOVE this site! I visited in spring of 2004 and had the place all to myself. The ambience is spectacular, being right at the edge of the turquoise waters. Love the houses around the broch, such a cozy arrangement! Hard to imagine the whole village crowded into that broch for very long. The banks around it are also brilliant. A perfect place for an event, but hope steps are taken to make sure the site isn't damaged. Also that wonderful shamrock-shaped house on the site.

Stonetramp
[ Reply to This ]

Family Fun at Broch of Gurness,Wed 4 July and 25 July 2007 by Andy B on Saturday, 23 June 2007
(User Info | Send a Message)

Family Fun at Broch of Gurness
Earl's Palace, Kirkwall

Wed 4 July and 25 July 2007, 11 am - 12 pm

Come along for stories, drawing and activities at the Broch of Gurness.

Contact the Rangers service on 01856 841 732 to book or for more information.
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/events-full-article.htm?articleid=24504
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Gurness by howar on Tuesday, 23 January 2007
(User Info | Send a Message)
When the well was found in 1932 it was at the base of a 15' stairway with 18 steps between the top and bottom landings. Removal of two unbonded steps revealed a hidden chamber.
[ Reply to This ]

Your Name: Anonymous [ Register Now ]
Subject:


Add your comment or contribution to this page. Spam or offensive posts are deleted immediately, don't even bother

<<< What is five plus one as a number? (Please type the answer to this question in the little box on the left)
You can also embed videos and other things. For Youtube please copy and paste the 'embed code'.
For Google Street View please include Street View in the text.
Create a web link like this: <a href="https://www.megalithic.co.uk">This is a link</a>  

Allowed HTML is:
<p> <b> <i> <a> <img> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <tt> <li> <ol> <ul> <object> <param> <embed> <iframe>

We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.