MHG959 - Broch, Tota an Dranndain
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (1)
- BROCH (Iron Age - 550 BC to 560 AD)
Protected Status
Full Description
Tota an Dranndain (NR) OS 6"map, Caithness, 2nd ed., (1907)
Tota an Dranndain: The ruins of a large circular construction, in the building of which stones of great size have been employed. It has been circular, 53ft overall diameter. The entrance has been from NW, measuring 2ft in width at its outer extremity, and the passage wall is evident on the right for a distance of 10ft; on left side, there appears to be the entrance to a chamber. The inner face of the wall is not visible. While in some respects the ruin resembles a broch, a number of large flat slabs lying exposed over the surface and certain other features suggest that it possibly is not one. It is 4 or 5ft in max height.
RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910.
The remains of this broch are generally as described by the RCAHMS. The overall diameter is about 17m, the height is 1.5m, and the wall appears to have been about 4m wide. The interior of the broch is a pile of grassed-over rubble.
Visited by OS (E G C) 10 April 1961.
(ND 0374 5792) Tota an Dranndain (NAT) Broch (NR) OS 6"map, (1963)
No change; there is the impression of a mural chamber in S side.
Visited by OS (J B) 21 July 1981.
ND05 2 TOTA AN DRANNDAIN ('Forss Water', 'Shurrery')
ND/037579
Probable broch in Reay, Caithness, set beside a stream in low-lying country [3] and consisting of a mound of stones with structural features visible. Courses of facing stones of the outer wall are visible in places, some being of great size, and suggest a circular building with an overall diameter of 16m [3] (or 53ft [1]). The entrance has been on the north-west, 60cm (2ft) wide at the exterior; its right wall can be traced for 3m (10ft), and there may be a chamber on the left A linear depression in the south arc of the mound might be the remains of a mural gallery [3]. The building is on top of an older mound, itself possibly of two phases [3].
Sources: 1. NMRS site no. ND 05 NW 8 and fig.: 2. RCAHMS 1911a, 106, no. 391: 3. Mercer 1985, 101 (fig. 56) and (Mon. no. FOR 312). <1>
Sources/Archives (4)
- --- SHG14548 Image/Photograph(s): Tota an Dranndain. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
- --- SHG14549 Image/Photograph(s): Tota an Dranndain. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
- --- 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. . 106, No. 391.
- <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. ND05 2 TOTA AN DRANNDAIN.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 0373 5792 (70m by 70m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND05NW |
| Civil Parish | REAY |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (2)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM492 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/7738 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
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