Results 1 to 3 of 3

Thread: Pre-Roman Scottish architecture and towers: the brochs

  1. #1
    Roma_Victrix's Avatar Call me Ishmael
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Virginia, USA
    Posts
    15,242

    Icon5 Pre-Roman Scottish architecture and towers: the brochs



    The documentary does a fairly good job of explaining the brochs of Iron Age Scotland, basically large conical stone towers of the northern British Isles. They exist as far north as Shetland Islands in the subarctic archipelago. The evidence for brochs going back to the 4th century BC is a bit tenuous, which the video doesn't really explain in depth, but many of them can be reliably dated to the 1st centuries BC and AD despite the paltry evidence of radiocarbon dating. That would make them contemporaneous with the first Roman landing in the British Isles by Julius Caesar in 55 and 54 BC, and later with the Roman invasion of 43 AD, the revolt of Boudica in 60-61 AD, and the Battle of Mons Graupius in 83 AD when the Roman army under Gnaeus Julius Agricola invaded Scotland.

    The Romans, who built the baths of Bath, England, Hadrian's Wall, and urban sites such as Londonium (modern London, where a Roman wall section still exists), obviously brought a grand Greco-Roman and Mediterranean architectural tradition to the British Isles, one that would help shape the architectural traditions of later cultures such as the Anglo-Saxons and Normans. However, the pre-Roman Britons, Cornovii, Caledonians, Caereni, and other Celtic natives clearly had one of their own in the far north, and not just something inspired by Celtic oppida fortress towns in mainland Europe. As the video explains, these towers don't exist further south in England or Wales.

    Can anyone share their thoughts, theories, or insights on how the brochs developed and evolved within the local culture? We still don't know their exact purpose, if they were used solely for defense as strategic fortifications, or if they were stately manner homes of local lords, or a combination of both. Some are placed in strange areas, though, that don't seem to make much strategic sense, and could have even been used as religious sanctuaries (although nothing like that has been proven, of course).

  2. #2
    Genava's Avatar Senator
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Geneva
    Posts
    1,025

    Default Re: Pre-Roman Scottish architecture and towers: the brochs

    The evidence for brochs going back to the 4th century BC is a bit tenuous, which the video doesn't really explain in depth, but many of them can be reliably dated to the 1st centuries BC and AD despite the paltry evidence of radiocarbon dating.
    It depends if we talk about the general Atlantic Roundhouses, its subset the Complex Roundhouses or only the Brochs. For the Brochs, there is one study putting an earlier date for the development:
    Time and place: a new chronology for the origin of the broch based on the scientific dating programme at the Old Scatness Broch, Shetland
    http://journals.socantscot.org/index...load/9677/9644

    But the 4th century BC is the earliest possible, it could be 2nd century BC as well from their data and uncertainties. Their study is interesting anyway because it suggests a gradual and local development in the Northern part of Britain.

    Can anyone share their thoughts, theories, or insights on how the brochs developed and evolved within the local culture?
    I think the defensive aspect of these structures should not be exaggerated as the reason for their development. I see these as a gradual increase of the hierarchical structures in the society, the development of patronage and clientelism and of the agriculture in the economy. Not very innovative, I know.
    LOTR mod for Shogun 2 Total War (Campaign and Battles!)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIywmAgUxQU

  3. #3
    Roma_Victrix's Avatar Call me Ishmael
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Virginia, USA
    Posts
    15,242

    Default Re: Pre-Roman Scottish architecture and towers: the brochs

    Quote Originally Posted by Genava View Post
    It depends if we talk about the general Atlantic Roundhouses, its subset the Complex Roundhouses or only the Brochs. For the Brochs, there is one study putting an earlier date for the development:
    Time and place: a new chronology for the origin of the broch based on the scientific dating programme at the Old Scatness Broch, Shetland
    http://journals.socantscot.org/index...load/9677/9644

    But the 4th century BC is the earliest possible, it could be 2nd century BC as well from their data and uncertainties. Their study is interesting anyway because it suggests a gradual and local development in the Northern part of Britain.



    I think the defensive aspect of these structures should not be exaggerated as the reason for their development. I see these as a gradual increase of the hierarchical structures in the society, the development of patronage and clientelism and of the agriculture in the economy. Not very innovative, I know.
    It's frustrating that we don't know more than that, or if they served any significant religious purposes, but thanks for all of this clarification. I never actually saw this post of yours for some reason, but I'm glad to belatedly rep you for it. Also, thanks for providing that link above.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •