A substantial stone structure over 10m in diametre and 2m in height is exposed in a sand mound at the north end of Channerwick. The structure appears to comprise a massive external double wall constructed from white crystalline rock. Rubble fills the space between the walls. To the north of the external wall, internal structures are constructed with fine-grained sandstone slabs. At least two walls are visible. In the centre of the internal space, a subterranean corbelled chamber underlies the floor and hearth deposits of the structure. Associated midden deposits comprising peat ash and organic material and incorporating frequent animal bone and pottery are present throughout the internal part of the structure and extend c. 50m north-eastwards, thinning gradually to the stream where they form a thin layer directly overlying beach cobbles. An inhumation burial was recovered in February 2014 from the area immediately seaward (south-east) of the structure. The skeleton is currently being re-dated to verify an initial 19th century date obtained from the mandible. The architecture and scale of the structure is suggestive of a broch. However, internal structures strongly resemble a wheelhouse. There are examples of brochs with later wheelhouses inserted into the interior, e.g. at Levenwick broch, around 10km south of Channerwick. However, initial impressions of the remains exposed in the section, are that the internal structure is contemporary with the external wall. Until further investigation, complex Atlantic Roundhouse best describes the structure. |
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Image | Date | Caption | User |
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30/05/2014 | Feb 2018: erosion of soil from behind pier has left the stonework partially freestanding | joannahambly | |
30/05/2014 | Feb 2018: central part of section in interior of broch, lower part covered by slumped material | joannahambly | |
30/05/2014 | Feb 2018: Section lower part covered by recently slumped soil and turf | joannahambly | |
30/05/2014 | Collapsed south wall of church. The broch-like structure is to the left (southwest) of this out of view. | training1 | |
30/05/2014 | Face of external wall, looking north | training1 | |
30/05/2014 | Corbelled cell beneath floor and hearth deposits | training1 | |
30/05/2014 | Closer view of oblique section across external wall. | training1 | |
30/05/2014 | General view looking northwest. Massive external walling to left, internal structures to right. | training1 | |
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1661 | 30/05/2014 | training1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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