Caithness to Build Iron Age Jewel –

A New Broch for the Future

When I first read this story I thought the good people of Caithness had lost it and were raising a million quid to buy or make a “Broach”, but then I read more carefully and it was a broch, not a broach. As you might know a broch is an Iron Age drystone structure with hollow walls. And they are only found in Scotland. The theory used to be that they were defensive military structures like an Iron Age castle, but now nobody really knows. Perhaps they were the houses of clan chiefs and nobles. Even this isn’t clear.  Now a broch roundhouse is to be built in Caithness utilising ancient building methods to bring the area’s history to life.  The Caithness broch is to be modelled on a similar building in Shetland constructed about 2,000 years ago.

Only Ruins Remain

 There are no complete brochs remaining only partial ruins are extant around the country left, but the highest number in any Scottish region between 200 and 300 are thought to exist in Caithness. A million quid will have to be raised to make the recreation. The finished house will be some forty odd feet high in old money or 13m high in new. A special charity has been set up to raise the money, but all are optimistic about the prospects for the fund raising.

Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology

Next year, to coincide with the Scottish government’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, the charity has proposed a year of fundraising events. It will include an excavation of Thing’s Va, an Iron Age settlement. This huge Broch site sits on a hill west of Thurso. It was reused by the Vikings, as their Parliament, hence the name, a Ting was a Viking meeting or Parliament. Icelanders who have the world’s oldest Parliament call theirs the ‘Althing.’

The three year project will involve many of Caithness’ master craftsmen, skilled in drystone dyking as they call it. They will use the knowledge garnered from the many ruins in the area, which indicate that at some point all the brochs were used for domestic purposes. But this broch will be outstanding among other replica roundhouses making it yet another reason to spend time in Caithness.

A Reason to Spend in Caithness

Well before you’ve visited the broch, because three years is a bit long to wait you can have your near instant Caithness experience when you purchase this lovely thistle paperweight made for the Scottish Homecoming.  

https://www.jamespirie.com/brands/caithness/scottish-homecoming-mini-thistle.html