Condition

3
Broch and associated structures
Iron Age
948
SMR 726
Shetland

Description

The Broch of Burraland stands on a promontory, surrounded by high cliff, across the sound from Mousa Broch. Defended by substantial ramparts, the broch is well preserved and is surrounded by numerous buildings. The remains are slowly being degraded by animal disturbance and by the advance of a storm beach. Several structures are actively eroding over the cliff edge and the immediate hinterland of the broch has been denuded of vegetation. The individual elements which make up this complex site are briefly described below: (i) The approach to the promontory is blocked by a drystone structure of 18th-20th C date. This appears to serve both as a small pund or shelter and as a barrier, restricting access onto the promontory. The current structure is built over the footings of a larger structure. This is most clearly seen on the seaward side where a turf-covered wall or bank extends beyond the base of the modern wall. The robust form of the modern structure and its strategic location are reminiscent of a blockhouse and it is tempting to think that, in this, it may reflect the nature of its predecessor. There is, however, no direct evidence of a blockhouse. (ii) Beyond the pund/barrier, further on to the promontory the ill-defined remains of a grass-covered bank lies at the neck of the promontory. In one area, the grass covering has been rubbed away by sheep. Here, part of a wall, standing up to 1m high and surmounted by an earthen bank is exposed. There are slight indications of a second bank behind and parallel to this. It seems probable that these banks originally formed a line of defence which extended across the entire neck of the promontory. (iii) To the S side of the promontory there is a steep-sided geo. The sides are eroding and archaeological deposits are exposed in the upper levels. At the W side of the geo, the remains of a small cellular structure are exposed in a 3m long section. The walls of this structure are coursed and stand up to 1.6m high. On the W side of the geo, anthropogenic soil deposits and midden up to 8m deep are visible in a 15m long exposure. There are also fragments of coursed walling and collapsed stonework in this area. (iv) The broch lies less than 10m from the cliff edge. The ground outside the SW part of the building has been denuded of vegetation by salt spray and animal trampling. This threatens to have a destabilising affect on the structure. The entrance appears to be located on the SW side where there is a ragged-edged gap in the wall at ground level. The entrance floor lies below the present ground surface. The broch measures some 17m in diameter and stands up to 4m high; the walls are about 3m wide. The interior is filled with collapsed stone but traces of a gallery can be seen. The inner wall faces are loose and crumbling and columns of masonry threaten to collapse in the near future. The structure urgently requires some form of consolidation or covering to stabilise the walls. A rubble-covered platform extends around the base of the broch to the E and SE sides. The front of the platform is revetted with stone. (v) To the E side of the exterior of the broch a subrectangular enclosure is defined by earthen and stone banks. It measures 11m by 15m and the interior is relatively level. The banks stand up to 1.5m high and have spread to a maximum width of 2m. Several large orthostats are incorporated into the bank. On one side, the enclosure abuts the platform at the base of the broch. On the other, the bank extends beyond the limits of the enclosure to abut the W side of building (vi). It reappears on the E, where it abuts the entrance of building (ix). (vi) This structure is very poorly defined. It lies between the enclosure (v) and building (vii). Traced from slight topographic evidence, it is estimated to measure about 8m by 5m. The rear of the building abuts the enclosure bank. A small amorphous mound to one side may be an associated feature. (vii) This building is irregularly oval in plan It is approximately 9m long and varies between 4m and 6m in width. It is entered via an elongated entrance passage which faces seaward, away from the broch. The passage is 5m long by 1.5m wide. A small recessed area or cell is formed from a bow in the wall. This lies at the inner end of the entrance passage. The exterior wall face stands up to 0.3m high and is grass-covered. In the interior parts of an internal revetted wall face are exposed to a height of 0.6m. The walls probably survive to a greater height than this, however, since the floor level has been raised through infilling with rubble and debris. (viii) An oval building lies within 2m of building (vii), to the rear of structure (ix). The exterior wall face is poorly defined, but part of the inner wall face is visible. The internal dimensions are 6m long by 4m wide. The interior is filled with stone. (ix) A pair of orthostats, set 1m apart, mark the entrance to this structure. It is poorly defined and the interior is filled with loose rubble. It measures approximately 6m in length by 3.5 or 4m in width. It is possible that this structure is a continuation of structure (viii) or that it forms an annex to it. (x) Measuring 11m by 5m, this subrectangular structure is defined by a stone-revetted interior wall face. It abuts buildings (ix) and (xi). The interior is filled with stone and debris. There are traces of an entrance passage at the seaward end. (xi) This irregularly oval building is divided on the interior into a series of cells which are recessed into the enclosing bank. The bank is of earthen and stone construction and measures 10m by 5m. The entrance faces seaward and there appears to be a porch or annex in front. This measures some 4m by 4m. The interior of the building is filled with rubble. In the area between buildings (xi) and (xiv), the faint outlines of two smaller buildings can be made out: (xii) One is a banjo- shaped structure, measuring 6m by 3m. (xiii) The other structure is oval and measures 5m in diameter. (xiv) The westernmost structure measures 12m by 5m and is divided into two conjoined cells. The interior contains much loose stone but appears to have been partially cleared at some time in the recent past. The interior wall face, which is formed from small, regularly coursed blocks, is visible to a height of 1.2m. (xv) The remains of a large cellular structure are visible in an eroding cliff section to the NW side of the promontory. The walls are constructed from coursed stone and there appear to be internal divisions or features present. (xvi) Further structural remains, associated with anthropogenic deposits, are exposed in a 1.5m high section for over 15m to the NNW side of the promontory. 01/06/2014 As described. Structures to the south of the broch are on the edge of a vertical sided geo. There is some slight erosion on scars in the steep slopes above the geo. Generally all remains around the broch are turf covered and stable. The broch structure itself is not at risk of coastal erosion.

Location

444690.00
1123200.00
27700
59.9912453
-1.2008014

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
West wall of broch showing collapse and broch of Mousa in far background, looking east 01/06/2014 West wall of broch showing collapse and broch of Mousa in far background, looking east training1
West wall of broch showing collapse and broch of Mousa in far background, looking east
Collapsed southeast part of broch, looking northwest 01/06/2014 Collapsed southeast part of broch, looking northwest training1
Collapsed southeast part of broch, looking northwest
Proximity of south side of broch to geo, looking west 01/06/2014 Proximity of south side of broch to geo, looking west training1
Proximity of south side of broch to geo, looking west

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
1673 01/06/2014 training1
Tidal state Mid
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge < 10m
Coastally eroding? not eroding
Threats stock erosion
Other threats Slight stock erosion by sheep.
Visibility above ground Highly visible (substantial remains)
Visibility in section Not visible
Access accessible on foot (no footpath)
Local knowledge is well known
Description The Broch of Burraland stands on a promontory, surrounded by high cliff, across the sound from Mousa Broch. Defended by substantial ramparts, the broch is well preserved and is surrounded by numerous buildings. The remains are slowly being degraded by animal disturbance and by the advance of a storm beach. Several structures are actively eroding over the cliff edge and the immediate hinterland of the broch has been denuded of vegetation. The individual elements which make up this complex site are briefly described below: (i) The approach to the promontory is blocked by a drystone structure of 18th-20th C date. This appears to serve both as a small pund or shelter and as a barrier, restricting access onto the promontory. The current structure is built over the footings of a larger structure. This is most clearly seen on the seaward side where a turf-covered wall or bank extends beyond the base of the modern wall. The robust form of the modern structure and its strategic location are reminiscent of a blockhouse and it is tempting to think that, in this, it may reflect the nature of its predecessor. There is, however, no direct evidence of a blockhouse. (ii) Beyond the pund/barrier, further on to the promontory the ill-defined remains of a grass-covered bank lies at the neck of the promontory. In one area, the grass covering has been rubbed away by sheep. Here, part of a wall, standing up to 1m high and surmounted by an earthen bank is exposed. There are slight indications of a second bank behind and parallel to this. It seems probable that these banks originally formed a line of defence which extended across the entire neck of the promontory. (iii) To the S side of the promontory there is a steep-sided geo. The sides are eroding and archaeological deposits are exposed in the upper levels. At the W side of the geo, the remains of a small cellular structure are exposed in a 3m long section. The walls of this structure are coursed and stand up to 1.6m high. On the W side of the geo, anthropogenic soil deposits and midden up to 8m deep are visible in a 15m long exposure. There are also fragments of coursed walling and collapsed stonework in this area. (iv) The broch lies less than 10m from the cliff edge. The ground outside the SW part of the building has been denuded of vegetation by salt spray and animal trampling. This threatens to have a destabilising affect on the structure. The entrance appears to be located on the SW side where there is a ragged-edged gap in the wall at ground level. The entrance floor lies below the present ground surface. The broch measures some 17m in diameter and stands up to 4m high; the walls are about 3m wide. The interior is filled with collapsed stone but traces of a gallery can be seen. The inner wall faces are loose and crumbling and columns of masonry threaten to collapse in the near future. The structure urgently requires some form of consolidation or covering to stabilise the walls. A rubble-covered platform extends around the base of the broch to the E and SE sides. The front of the platform is revetted with stone. (v) To the E side of the exterior of the broch a subrectangular enclosure is defined by earthen and stone banks. It measures 11m by 15m and the interior is relatively level. The banks stand up to 1.5m high and have spread to a maximum width of 2m. Several large orthostats are incorporated into the bank. On one side, the enclosure abuts the platform at the base of the broch. On the other, the bank extends beyond the limits of the enclosure to abut the W side of building (vi). It reappears on the E, where it abuts the entrance of building (ix). (vi) This structure is very poorly defined. It lies between the enclosure (v) and building (vii). Traced from slight topographic evidence, it is estimated to measure about 8m by 5m. The rear of the building abuts the enclosure bank. A small amorphous mound to one side may be an associated feature. (vii) This building is irregularly oval in plan It is approximately 9m long and varies between 4m and 6m in width. It is entered via an elongated entrance passage which faces seaward, away from the broch. The passage is 5m long by 1.5m wide. A small recessed area or cell is formed from a bow in the wall. This lies at the inner end of the entrance passage. The exterior wall face stands up to 0.3m high and is grass-covered. In the interior parts of an internal revetted wall face are exposed to a height of 0.6m. The walls probably survive to a greater height than this, however, since the floor level has been raised through infilling with rubble and debris. (viii) An oval building lies within 2m of building (vii), to the rear of structure (ix). The exterior wall face is poorly defined, but part of the inner wall face is visible. The internal dimensions are 6m long by 4m wide. The interior is filled with stone. (ix) A pair of orthostats, set 1m apart, mark the entrance to this structure. It is poorly defined and the interior is filled with loose rubble. It measures approximately 6m in length by 3.5 or 4m in width. It is possible that this structure is a continuation of structure (viii) or that it forms an annex to it. (x) Measuring 11m by 5m, this subrectangular structure is defined by a stone-revetted interior wall face. It abuts buildings (ix) and (xi). The interior is filled with stone and debris. There are traces of an entrance passage at the seaward end. (xi) This irregularly oval building is divided on the interior into a series of cells which are recessed into the enclosing bank. The bank is of earthen and stone construction and measures 10m by 5m. The entrance faces seaward and there appears to be a porch or annex in front. This measures some 4m by 4m. The interior of the building is filled with rubble. In the area between buildings (xi) and (xiv), the faint outlines of two smaller buildings can be made out: (xii) One is a banjo- shaped structure, measuring 6m by 3m. (xiii) The other structure is oval and measures 5m in diameter. (xiv) The westernmost structure measures 12m by 5m and is divided into two conjoined cells. The interior contains much loose stone but appears to have been partially cleared at some time in the recent past. The interior wall face, which is formed from small, regularly coursed blocks, is visible to a height of 1.2m. (xv) The remains of a large cellular structure are visible in an eroding cliff section to the NW side of the promontory. The walls are constructed from coursed stone and there appear to be internal divisions or features present. (xvi) Further structural remains, associated with anthropogenic deposits, are exposed in a 1.5m high section for over 15m to the NNW side of the promontory. 01/06/2014 As described. Structures to the south of the broch are on the edge of a vertical sided geo. There is some slight erosion on scars in the steep slopes above the geo. Generally all remains around the broch are turf covered and stable. The broch structure itself is not at risk of coastal erosion.
Monitor. Site not at risk from coastal erosion except from extreme weather events.
Comments Re-assign priority 3.

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