Dun Hallin
Visited on Thursday April 28th
Seven intrepid members braved the un-seasonal weather forecast for this trip.
Access: The broch
is situated at NG 2566 5927. We turned
right at the sign to the B&B “Tir nan Og” and parked outside the derelict
shop (room for 2-3 cars) at NG 254588.
From there it was about a 15 minute walk. We went through the gate behind the shop and
agricultural shed and followed a rough track up to a second gate. Then it was a question of walking in a
direction about “11 o’ clock” (very
scientific). The broch soon came into
view.
This broch has never been excavated so who knows what lies
below the debris which fill the interior.
The stones of the walls are very large and square and unsurprisingly
the stones decrease in size as the wall gets higher. The entrance is not visible from the outside but becomes clear once you have climbed up onto the walls.
The Canmore description tells of two intramural cells but it is very difficult to make out more than one.
No doorway is visible from the cell.
The steps mentioned in the notes by Euan Mackie (on Canmore) are still visible but it is very difficult to find evidence of the scarcement or intramural gallery mentioned.
There is a small walled enclosure attached to the north east
wall, at least I think it was north east!
This is a much rougher construction and so probably a later addition –
maybe shelter for shepherds or for enclosing animals. Near this enclosure is, what looks like a
filled in doorway, which can be seen on the 1921 photograph but is not mentioned
in the archaeological notes on Canmore. There
is no sign of a lintel and the stone work above the filled in section looks in
good alignment.
 |
| 1921 |
1921
 | |
| 2016 |
This broch appears to have been situated within a large walled
enclosure, which Canmore suggests may have been cultivated but I wonder if at
some time it also housed other people in more basic dwellings such as shown on
the Caithness broch project Facebook page.
Clever reconstruction of Jarlshoff in Shetland
The enclosed area at Hallin would have been big enough for both cultivation and a few wee houses....I know some of you disagree so please comment.
The concave shape of the roof in this virtual reconstruction is curious.
Clever reconstruction of Jarlshoff in Shetland
The enclosed area at Hallin would have been big enough for both cultivation and a few wee houses....I know some of you disagree so please comment.
The concave shape of the roof in this virtual reconstruction is curious.
Once again, it seems to me that the entrance is facing the LEAST convenient direction - down a slope - which to me indicates a defensive role. If you wanted the entrance to face SE - as many brochs do - then it could have been sited at the north-west corner of the flat area, so that it opened onto a conveniently flat 'patio'.
ReplyDeleteIt's also within sight of Dun Boreraig, so the idea that it's part of a group of signalling watchtowers holds water, too - but whether that was their original, primary purpose ... who knows?
I also think that the series of towers as a friend or foe entered Loch Dunvegan would be really impressive - the same effect occurs even now when sailing into Hoy past the Martello towers there.