MHG1767 - Broch, Upper Sour
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (1)
- BROCH (Iron Age - 550 BC to 560 AD)
Protected Status
Full Description
Broch (NR) (remains of) OS 6" map, (1970)
A large grassy mound, sloping away gradually to S, and containing ruins of a broch at its N end, has been quarried to some extent, but no wall is exposed anywhere. The diameter of the mound has been from 60 to 70ft, and some 8 or 9ft in height.
RCAHMS 1911
Classified as a broch. A Graham 1949
The greatly mutilated remains of grass-covered mound are now almost square due to ploughing on two sides; it now measures 33m across by 2.7m high. The only distinguishable feature is a small kerb-like section 0.3m high on SE side. There is a modern cairn on N segment.
Resurveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (R D) 16 February 1965
The remains of a broch surviving as a mound surmounting a larger mound, all overgrown with rough grass. The broch mound is about 18m diameter and 1.5m high but it is truncated on N side by ploughing, and mutilated by surface quarrying. A content of slabs is exposed in N flank. The larger mound is as described by the previous authorities. Visited by OS (N K B) 15 February 1982
'Broch', Upper Sour. Dimensions: 35 x 34m. Subcircular grass-covered mound 4m high quarried on the SW side. Coursing is visible on the NW side. At the top there is a platform 16m in diameter, surmounted by a modern cairn.
R J Mercer, NMRS MS/828/19, 1995
ND16 16 UPPER SOUR ND/1085 6056
Possible broch in Halkirk, Caithness, consisting of a large grassy mound 2.4-2.7m (8-9ft) in height in which no traces of masonry can be seen. This is another classic Caithness 'mound on mound' site [3] and it has been partly quarried.
Sources: 1. NMRS site no. ND 16 SW 4: 2. RCAHMS 1911b, 35, no. 114: 3. Swanson (ms) 1985, 639. <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. . 35, No. 114.
- <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 16 UPPER SOUR.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 1084 6055 (70m by 70m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND16SW |
| Civil Parish | HALKIRK |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (2)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM2218 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/8545 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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