Burra Ness Broch 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 located on the east coast of the island of Yell, Shetland, Scotland.

Location

Burra Ness Broch () is situated 2.6 kilometres south of the small village of

Gutcher Gutcher is a settlement on the northeast coast of Yell in the Shetland islands. From here, rollon/roll off ferry services to Belmont on Unst and Hamars Ness on Fetlar operate. The settlement has a harbour, and a former post office which, in 20 ...

on the tip of the headland of Burra Ness. It can be reached by a path south from the settlement of North Sandwick.

Description

The broch has an external diameter of about 18 metres. The outer wall is around 4.5 metres thick, and stands over 4 metres high on the east side. Two hundred years ago the broch is reported to have been 20 feet (6.1 metres) high, and the beginning of a bell-shaped profile was clearly visible. Internally a "scarcement" ledge to support an upper floor is visible some 4 metres above the ground. There are signs of an upper intramural gallery, and there are traces of intramural "guard cell" on the southeast side but no remains of the entrance can be seen. There are traces of outbuildings towards the north, south and southeast, and slight indications of surrounding ramparts. The ruins of a later farm can be seen about 100 metres to the south.

References

External links

* {{Prehistoric Shetland Brochs in Shetland Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Shetland Yell, Shetland