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Broch of Gurness is a substantial Iron Age fortified structure located on the Orkney Mainland near Aikerness in northern Scotland. The broch itself dates to the later Iron Age and comprises a distinctive circular stone tower with a characteristic hollow-wall construction, typical of broch architecture found throughout northern Britain. The site encompasses not only the broch tower but also an extensive settlement of associated roundhouses and other structures that developed around it, representing occupation across several centuries. Archaeological investigations have revealed evidence of domestic activity and material culture spanning the Iron Age period, making Broch of Gurness significant for understanding settlement patterns and architectural practices in Iron Age Orkney.
Aiker Ness,Broch of Gurness,broch and settlement is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90157. View the official record →
Broch of Gurness is a substantial Iron Age fortified structure located on the Orkney Mainland near Aikerness in northern Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90157.
Aiker Ness,Broch of Gurness,broch and settlement dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a broch of gurness,broch and settlement. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Aiker Ness,Broch of Gurness,broch and settlement is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM90157.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Seven Knowes, mounds (6.2 km), Black Knowe, mound 470m N of Lower Cottascarth (7.1 km), Knowe of Lyron, mound 120m WNW of Lyron Cottage (7.2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Aiker Ness,Broch of Gurness,broch and settlement's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Aiker Ness,Broch of Gurness,broch and settlement stands on Middle Devonian sandstone, bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is major:{sandstone}, Minor{siltstone,marl}.