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MHG1003 - Hut circle - Broubster

Summary

A hut circle at Broubster.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A hut circle at Broubster.

At ND 0266 6111 there is a largely turf-covered hut circle set into a gentle SE-facing slope. It measures about 8m in diameter within a wall spread 1.5 -2m and 0.5m high The entrance is in the ESE; a band of stone extends outwards from N side of entrance passage for 2m. A stony scarp in the interior suggests a sub- division. A small number of clearance heaps, short stretches of wasted walling and linear clearance are evidence of contemporary cultivation around the hut.
Surveyed at 1:10,000. Visited by OS (J B) 21 September 1981.

The hut circle is visible in LiDAR data gathered by AOC Archaeology in 2011 as part of the mitigation for the visual impact on the archaeological landscape associated with the proposed Baillie Hill windfarm, Caithness. <1>

The site was visited and recorded by topographic survey in 2015 as part of the 'Hidden Bronze Age Landscape of Caithness Project' undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group and members of the Castletown Heritage Society with local volunteers. The project ran as a series of four week-long field schools training volunteers in techniques of field survey, systematic soil sampling and targeted excavation. Fieldwork in week one of the field school (22-27/06/2015) focussed on using LiDAR data in the field, use of GPS to create simple maps of archaeological sites and ground-truthing sites through LiDAR. In week two (13-18/07/2015) participants learned how to create accurate plans using manual taped offset and plane table survey and total station and GPS surveys. Site 15: Well preserved hut circle on a gentle SE facing slope of rough grazing of mixed grasses and heather. Comprised of a penannular earth and stone bank measuring 14.6m external diameter and 7.1m internal diameter and survives up to a height of 0.7m. Possible facing stones are visible within the bank especially in the S area. An entrance lies to the SE measuring 0.8m wide, with a curved bank extending from the E side of the entrance. Within the centre of the Hut Circle is a curving bank 2.5m in length and 1.5m wide that may be a secondary structure. <2>

GIS spatial data amended in 2018 according to feature as seen on 2009 vertical APs. <3>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred ND 0266 6111 (20m by 20m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	ND06SW
Civil Parish	REAY
Geographical Area	CAITHNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (2)

External Links (2)