Old Scatness Broch and Iron Age Village
Old Scatness · Scatness Broch · Ness of Burgi vic. settlement
Iron Age to Medieval (c.400 BCE–1400 CE)·Atlantic Iron Age / Pictish / Norse·🇬🇧 Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom
About
About Old Scatness Broch and Iron Age Village
Major multi-period archaeological site on the Dunrossness peninsula opposite Jarlshof, centred on an Iron Age broch (c.300 BCE) within a complex village of wheelhouses, workshops and later Pictish, Viking and medieval structures. Rediscovered during airport roadworks 1975; excavated 1995–2006 by University of Bradford and Shetland Amenity Trust, one of the largest research excavations in northern Scotland. Finds include Pictish painted pebbles, Viking weights and a socketed axe mould.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function of Pictish painted pebbles found within broch debris
- 02Degree of continuity between Iron Age and Pictish occupations
Theories
- 01Broch village as central place for south Mainland Shetland
- 02Recycling of broch stone for later wheelhouses indicates shifting social organisation
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Broch c. 300 BCE; village 200 BCE–400 CE; Pictish c. 400–800 CE; Norse c. 800–1300 CE
- Period
- Iron Age to Medieval (c.400 BCE–1400 CE)
- Culture
- Atlantic Iron Age / Pictish / Norse
- Purpose
- Defensive broch and nucleated village; later Pictish and Norse farmstead
- Rediscovered
- 1975 during road construction; excavated 1995–2006
- Excavation
- Excavated
Broch c. 300 BCE; village 200 BCE–400 CE; Pictish c. 400–800 CE; Norse c. 800–1300 CE
Initial construction
c. 1461 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
59.8791° N · 1.3057° W · 10 m · 3 mapped features
Old Scatness Broch
brochWell-preserved broch tower with entrance passage and guard cell, dated to c.300 BCE
59.8792° N · 1.3055° WIron Age Wheelhouse Village
wheelhouseCluster of wheelhouses and aisled houses encircling broch, excavated 1995–2006
59.8790° N · 1.3057° WPictish Structure with painted pebbles
structurePictish building level yielding painted quartz pebbles and symbol-adjacent finds
59.8790° N · 1.3059° W
Gallery