Clachtoll: An Iron Age Broch Settlement in Assynt, North-west Scotland

Clachtoll broch is a spectacular Iron Age settlement on the northern mainland of Scotland, threatened by coastal erosion. A major conservation and excavation program was launched to secure the structure and recover archaeological evidence of its occupation and use. The excavation provided evidence of a long and complex history of construction and rebuilding, with the final, middle Iron Age occupation phase ending in a catastrophic fire and collapse of the tower by the early years of the first century AD. The internal deposits span perhaps 50 years of the broch's final occupation and were remarkably well preserved, with no evidence for secondary re-use or disturbance after the fire. The excavation provides a remarkable snapshot of life in Iron Age Scotland, with an artefact assemblage attesting to daily agricultural life and long-range contacts that sets the broch within a wider Atlantic community.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2022
Publisher: Oxbow Books

Clachtoll broch is a remarkable Iron Age settlement located on the northern mainland of Scotland. Recognizing the threat posed by coastal erosion, Historic Assynt, a community heritage group, initiated a comprehensive conservation and excavation program to safeguard the vulnerable structure and recover the archaeological evidence of its occupation and use. The excavation yielded valuable insights into the broch's long and complex history, revealing a sequence of construction and rebuilding that spanned several centuries. The final occupation phase, during the middle Iron Age, ended in a catastrophic fire that caused the tower to collapse by the early years of the first century AD. The internal deposits, spanning approximately 50 years of the broch's final occupation, were remarkably well preserved, with no evidence of secondary re-use or disturbance after the fire. This excavation provides a unique snapshot of life in Iron Age Scotland, showcasing an artifact assemblage that reflects daily agricultural practices as well as long-range contacts that placed the broch within a broader Atlantic community.

Specialist analysis of the artefactual and palaeoenvironmental evidence, coupled with detailed analysis of the structure in its local geographical context, has yielded a significant contribution to the archaeology of north-west Scotland. The findings have broader implications for our understanding of late prehistoric society in northern Britain.

This report presents the findings of the archaeological investigations at Clachtoll, conducted by a team of archaeologists and specialists from AOC Archaeology Group. It encompasses evidence from various specialist analyses, as well as environmental and landscape investigations. The excavation at Clachtoll broch has been a groundbreaking endeavor that has shed light on the rich history and cultural significance of this remarkable Iron Age settlement.

Dimension: 297 x 210 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789258479