Region : Orkney Island : Mainland Town or village : Evie Grid Reference : HY 381 268 Period : 3rd cent. BC-9th cent. AD Gurness BROCH, SETTLEMENT

A remarkable broch and the surrounding remains of an Iron Age village, situated on the Aikerness peninsula on the north coast of Mainland (Orkney). The broch and the village are surrounded by three ramparts with quarry ditches. On the east is the long entrance way (in the photo). The broch had originally a single central hearth, a well and some stone-built cupboards against the wall. After the partial collapse of the tower, the interior was re-arranged with new stone partitions. Between the broch and the innermost rampart there are several houses. Many artefacts, mostly pottery and bone and stone tools, were found in the village. One of the best preserved building of the site, called the 'shamrock' for its four-lobed plan, was rebuilt near the little site museum. It dates from the time of the Picts. The grave of a Viking woman was found outside the entrance way. Her oval brooches and iron necklet can be seen in Tankerness House Museum in Kirkwall. In care of Historic Scotland

Other brochs, duns, forts ------------------ Brown Caterthun Carn Liath Clickimin Craig Phadrig Dun an Sticir Dun Ardtreck Dun Beag Dunbeath Dun Carloway Dun Dornaigil Dun Ringill Dun Telve Dun Troddan Edinshall Gurness Loch of Houlland Midhowe Mousa Ness of Burgi White Caterthun Other sites in Orkney ---------------------- Barnhouse Settlement Barnhouse Stone Blackhammer Comet Stone Cuween Hill Dwarfie Stane Grain Gurness Holm of Papa Westray North Holm of Papa Westray South Isbister (Tomb of the Eagles) Knap of Howar Knowe of Lairo Knowe of Yarso Liddle Maes Howe Midhowe Broch Midhowe Chambered Cairn Rennibister Ring of Brodgar (Brogar) Skara Brae Stone of Setter Stones of Stenness Taversoe Tuick Unstan Vinquoy Watch Stone Wideford Hill