MHG1262 - Broch, Achorn
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (1)
- BROCH (Iron Age - 550 BC to 560 AD)
Protected Status
Full Description
Broch (NR) OS 6" map, (1962)
In highest of cultivated fields about 1/3 mile WSW of Balcraggy Lodge is a grassy mound containing ruins of a broch. The outline of broch is not recognisable, but diameter of the mound is 70ft and its greatest height, 11ft. Much of the ruin has been removed.
RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910.
All that is left of this broch is a large, mutilated mound of earth and stone measuring 30m N-S by 27m transversely and some 3.5m high on N side. Approx 6m SE from centre of mound, a small trench has been dug, revealing the rubble core of a wall 1.4m long and 0.6m high; E of this, the base of outer wall face can just be discerned.
Visited by OS (W D J) 25 June 1960.
As described above. Surveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (RL) 14 March 1968.
The mound containing the broch remains is generally as described by previous authorities. The small trench noted, 2m long and 0.8m deep, exposes one side of a mural gallery. There are no other wall faces to be seen.
Visited by OS (J M) 19 August 1982.
ND13 1 ACHORN ('Balcraggy Lodge') ND/1369 3050
Possible broch in Latheron, Caith-ness, consisting of a mutilated grassy mound of earth and stone in the highest of the cultivated fields near Balcraggy Lodge. Despite the damage there are traces of what may be an intra-mural gallery on the south side, and the site has been diagnosed as another typical Caithness 'mound on mound' [3]. There are also suggestions of an outer wall [3].
Sources: 1. NMRS site no. ND 13 SW 3: 2. RCAHMS 1911b, 58, no. 214: 3. Swanson (ms) 1985, 700-02 and plan. <1>
Sources/Archives (3)
- --- SHG20974 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Morrison A. 1985. Dunbeath Survey-1984-1985. University of Glasgow. . Digital (scanned as PDF).
- --- SHG2664 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1911. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Third report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Caithness. . 58, No. 214.
- <1> SHG26111 Text/Publication/Monograph: Mackie, E.. 2007. The Roundhouses, Brochs and Wheelhouses of Atlantic Scotland c.700 BC - AD 500: Architecture and material culture Part 2 (I & II) The Northern and Southern Mainland and the Western Islands. BAR British Series. 444. Paperback. ND13 1 ACHORN.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 1368 3049 (70m by 70m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND13SW |
| Civil Parish | LATHERON |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (1)
External Links (2)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM511 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/8215 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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