Dun Troddan ( gd, Dùn Trodan) is an

iron-age The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age ( Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) and the Bronze Age (Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostly a ...

broch A broch is an Iron Age drystone hollow-walled structure found in Scotland. Brochs belong to the classification "complex Atlantic roundhouse" devised by Scottish archaeologists in the 1980s. Their origin is a matter of some controversy. Origin ...

located about southeast of the village of

Glenelg, Highland Glenelg ( gd, Glinn Eilg, also ''Gleann Eilg'' is a scattered community area and civil parish in the Lochalsh area of Highland in western Scotland. Despite the local government reorganisation the area is considered by many still to be in Inver ...

, in Scotland. It is one of the best-preserved brochs in Scotland.

Location

Dun Troddan () stands on a level rock platform north of the Abhainn a’ Ghlinne Bhig, in the lower reaches of Gleann Beag. It lies just north of the minor road leading south from Glenelg. It can be accessed via a steep path. The neighbouring broch of

Dun Telve Dun Telve ( gd, Dùn Teilbh) is an iron-age broch located about southeast of the village of Glenelg, Inverness-shire in the Highland Region of Scotland. It is one of the best preserved brochs in Scotland. Location Dun Telve () stands on the ...

lies to the west, whilst the "semi-broch" known as

Dun Grugaig Dun Grugaig (or Caisteal Chonil) is a D-shaped dun, or "semi- broch", located about 7 kilometres southeast of the village of Glenelg, Highland, in Scotland (). Location Dun Grugaig stands on the north bank of the Abhainn a’Ghlaine Bhig, in the ...

is around to the southeast.

History

Dun Troddan was first sketched in about 1720 when it was still an intact tower. It is thought that it was over high in 1720, and it was described as being "by far the most entire of any in that Country". It was robbed for stone in 1722 during the construction of

Bernera Barracks Bernera Barracks is in Glenelg in the West Highlands of Scotland. The barracks were constructed between 1717 and 1723 as part of a campaign by the British government to subdue the local population which had risen up in arms in the Jacobite Rising ...

in Glenelg. The broch was visited by

Thomas Pennant Thomas Pennant (14 June Old Style, OS 172616 December 1798) was a Welsh natural history, naturalist, traveller, writer and antiquarian. He was born and lived his whole life at his family estate, Downing Hall near Whitford, Flintshire, in Wales ...

in 1772, and it was still a substantial structure, although it had lost the upper gallery by this time. It was cleared of "debris" without any supervision and consolidated by the

Office of Works The Office of Works was established in the England, English Royal Household, royal household in 1378 to oversee the building and maintenance of the royal castles and residences. In 1832 it became the Works Department forces within the Office of W ...

in the years between 1914 and 1920. The broch is now in the care of

Historic Environment Scotland Historic Environment Scotland (HES) ( gd, Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba) is an executive non-departmental public body responsible for investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland's historic environment. HES was formed in 2015 from the mer ...

Description

The broch consists of a drystone tower which measures around in diameter, and currently stands to a maximum height of . The external walls are thick at the base. The entrance is on the southwest side, and is now roofless. On the left side of the entrance passage is a small side-chamber, sometimes called a "guard cell". The broch has features now missing from Dun Telve; these include a number of postholes in the floor and a hearth. Built into the hearth is a broken

quern-stone Quern-stones are stone tools for hand-grinding a wide variety of materials. They are used in pairs. The lower stationary stone of early examples is called a saddle quern, while the upper mobile stone is called a muller, rubber or handstone. The ...

. The central court is an almost perfect circle with a diameter of . An internal doorway in the remaining high part of the wall provides access to a stairway. From here it is possible to ascend nine stairs to a first floor landing. The landing is long, at a height of above the central court. At the end of the landing can be seen the first step which would have led up the next flight of stairs.

References

External links

Glenelg Brochs: Dun Telve And Dun Troddan
Historic Scotland {{Broch Archaeological sites in Highland (council area) Brochs Historic Environment Scotland properties Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Highland