Why Scotland's 2,000-year-old 'skyscrapers' puzzle archaeologists – BBC REEL

Standing amid the stunning Scottish wilderness for the past 2,000 years, these mysterious stone structures are a symbol of Scotland’s unique archaeological past.

Known as a broch, the exact purpose of these iconic Iron Age ruins is still unknown, however a group of experimental archaeologists believe that an ambitious project to build a full-scale broch from scratch could finally help us to better understand their past.

Video by Chris Griffiths

Narration by Katrina Bell

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[BIGJATPSU]

I think they're on the right track with seeing them as an Iron Age "communal living space" for an attached or adjacent set of buildings like Broch Gurness. I'm sure ones in more fortifiable positions were viewed more for security but functioned the same in peaceful times with buildings being farther away as some sites have shown. Hope the MP's manage to help secure funds for the build, would be fascinating to visit when it's all done!

[curiousworld]

I really like the idea of relearning ancient stone masonry. These old skills, lost for so long, may prove to be important and useful in the future. And, just knowing or having some idea of 'why', 'how', and 'who' built these things, would be fascinating.

[nicolalang]

We visited the Glenelg brochs when we were in the area - they're fascinating! It feels completely off the beaten track, even though the little ferry runs from nearby to Skye. Highly recommended.

[teono]

near my hometown in Romania, there is Piroboridava, a 2000-1800 year-old location where a small fortification existed (destroyed by the communist regime). The location of this Dava is quite similar to those in Scotland, on a high hill overlooking a valley and a body of water. The supposed purpose of this Dava (meaning small village/fortress) was to keep a look out for enemy Roman troops. So maybe these had a similar purpose. People usually think that 2000 years ago people lived in caved and hunted dinosaurs, but people back there were pretty advanced. Like think that the first city was built almost 10 000 years ago or so

[johnkidd]

As a Highlander I've always understood a Broch to be a fortified house. One of my Rotties was called Broch, he was Rocky when we adopted him but we changed it and he took to the name just fine.

[matthewreedy]

I would absolutely love to see it built and would appreciate more information on dry stone building

[janerkenbrack]

This is the first I've heard of these structures. I am excited to learn more. Especially in learning what they were used for.
When I think about prehistoric structures I begin with the climate where they lived. When I saw the first pictures of Brochs in this video I thought how those thick walls would help retain the heat of the Earth. But when I saw how tall they were I realized that is likely the reason they are so thick. I would think dry stacking stone to that hight would need such a thick base to support that much stone above it. Too narrow and the thing could easily topple over from shifting stone.
And a thought that just came to me, I wonder if they lit fires in the center of the structure as was done in other early accommodations. The rising smoke caught up at the top under a roof might work well for smoking meats and fish. You could have security from the weather and climate, as well as storage and food preparation in one building.

[ClannCholmain]

It would definitely be the reason for my first visit to Scotland.

Greetings from the west of Ireland 🇮🇪

[sunsettersix]

Brochs have always excited my imagination. I'm just fascinated by these structures! Live in a broch during the Iron Age? YES PLEASE!

[stevezodiac]

I have visited clachtol broch near Loch Inver. Really interesting building in a location to die for.
Must have had a tough but happy life there 2000 years ago.

[peterlamont]

The Caithness broch project sounds great and I hope it achieves success.
The defensive nature of brochs, forts and duns is supported by evidence for precise and sophisticated signalling arrangements. See "Messages from the past: Iron Age signalling in Argyll". This early warning of anyone hostile approaching would have given time for the inhabitants of the surrounding area to retreat into the structure and defend themselves. First attempts did not always work and that can often be seen by a second, nearby structure with better signalling arrangements.
When the signalling requirements are examined for Dun Troddan and Dun Telve near Glenelg the logical conclusion is that Dun Troddan was constructed first, and, after its (presumed) destruction, a new site was chosen for its successor - Dun Telve - which is in a position to receive information from a better placed lookout on Skye.

[biancabaroli]

Thank you for this video. These structures remind me the ones in Sardinia (Italy) known as "nuraghe".

[austinblakeman]

Couldn’t these have been fortified silos or storehouses? Over the ages, has food not been an extremely valuable and pillage-prone resource in famine? A house could have also been a component of the structure, and perhaps someone living there used their control over the food supply to both feed and subjugate a local population.

[userMB]

Great video! These kind of buildings are very important for the people living there. Knowing your ancesters did something outstanding really makes you proud of your identity and heritage on a very deep level.

[wabisabi]

Fantastic! I look forward to watching the progress.

[ThatSpiffingChap]

There's still quite a lot of dry stone wall making going on in Norway today using very similar if not the same stone and methods. I did a course in it a while ago and the instructor said he has been to places in the British Isles and seen the structures and remarked on the similarity. I can't remember though if he had helped work with local efforts to make dry stone walls in the modern day though. But either way it would be good to have some international cooperation there to get to the root of this shared heritage.

[AshenDruid]

Looks like a form of castle to me, probably a large family with some farms around it I would think. The coastal ones would've been attractive to wreckers I bet if that was a thing at that point, or maybe a kind of lighthouse. But yeah fortified living space that offers a good view of the surrounding countryside, if you've got the rocks and the hands there's really no good reason not to build one.

[apislapis]

I've been to Dun Carloway / Dùn Chàrlabhaigh and very impressive it was too. They look like an Iron Age cooling tower to me. Looking forward to watching news of the broch reconstruction.

[Linz]

Love this, but not all brochs are in the north. If you are in the central belt you can easily visit the Tappoch Broch at Torwood near Falkirk.

[oLevLovesLove]

Finding agricultural tools inside the broch only indicates the last user. If it was abandoned by a garrison the precious weapons would be taken, then the rest cleaned out by looters. The positions at prominent heights and cliffs indicate a defensive purpose to guard and also to intimidate invaders. The thick walls reduce useful interior space if it was a storage, living or utility building but allow for a tall stable structure with wide battlements for defenders to fight from.