The Shetland Isles 5
Image by thelonious
The Shetland Isles

TV last night

wideford W
wideford Aug 12, 2005 18:14:07
Replying to PeterH

On the one hand there have been literally one or two that may have started 700 BCE, on the other there is a chappie that reckons anything before 100 BCE cannot ever be a broch, no questions.

P PeterH
PeterH Aug 12, 2005 18:21:14
Replying to wideford

Yes, but whichever way you look at it - they are not medieval. Massive time span if you consider extreme views - 700 BC to 900 AD

Interesting point to debate is when did a wheel house or other structure evolve into a broch. First define your broch I guess. Proto-brochs? ;-)

F FourWinds
FourWinds Aug 12, 2005 19:56:45
Replying to wideford

Ok. The one in the prog was scatness and it had dates below the walls of 800bce or so. Within the walls C14 dates gave around 400bce, so they must have been built then - and these are the oldest dates found at a broch to date.

As I said earlier, TC Lethbridge first proposed the wheel house to broch evolution in the 1950s and everyone scoffed. I love it when TC's right :-)

If you're into brochs etc you really should read <i>The Painted Men</i> for some interesting ideas that are only now being proved right (in part - still some that are just theory).

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