MHG1371 - Possible Broch, Olrig House
Summary
Possible Iron Age Broch which has also been interpreted as a cairn and mound.
Type and Period (2)
- BROCH (Iron Age - 550 BC to 560 AD)
- (Alternate Type) MOUND (Iron Age - 550 BC to 560 AD)
Protected Status
Full Description
'Broch'. Dimensions: 48 x 46m. Subcircular grass-covered mound, ploughed into on the NE and NW flanks.
R J Mercer, NMRS MS/828/19, 1995
A turf-covered, bowl-shaped mound as described above. No stones are exposed, and the turf mantle is indistinguishable from the surrounding ground. There are no diagnostic features exposed to enable classification.
Visited by OS (N K B) 10 March 1982
Mound (NR) OS 6" map, (1970)
A low mound as described above. No stones are visible, but it is probably a cairn.
Revised at 1:2500. Visited by OS (N K B) 18 February 1965
Broch (NR) OS 6" map, (1960)
Classified as an uncertain broch. A Graham 1949
Broch (supposed), Olrig House: A large grassy mound, it has been much spread through being at one time under cultivation, and now has a diameter of c120ft and a height of about 7ft. It is probably a broch, but no part of the structure is visible (RCAHMS 1911).
RCAHMS 1911
ND16 11 OLRIG HOUSE ('Olrig') ND/1890 6628
Possible broch in Olrig, Caithness, consisting of a large grassy mound about 40m in diameter and spread out by past cultivation; no parts of any building are visible.
Sources: 1. NMRS site no. ND 16 NE 14: 2. RCAHMS 1911b, 88, no. 323: 3. Anderson 1890, 184. <1>
Sources/Archives (3)
- --- SHG1531 Text/Publication/Article: Graham, A. 1949. 'Some observations on the brochs', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 81 1946-7, p.48-99. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 48-99. 96.
- --- 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. . 88, No. 323.
- <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. ND16 11 OLRIG HOUSE.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 1889 6627 (70m by 70m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND16NE |
| Civil Parish | OLRIG |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (2)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM571 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/8386 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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