Scheduled MonumentsScotlandBurra Ness, broch, Yell
Iron Age · Broch, yell

Burra Ness, broch, Yell

Scotland
HES SM2063
Period
Iron Age
Site type
Broch, yell
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland

Overview

History & significance

Burra Ness is a broch situated on the peninsula of Burra Ness on the island of Yell in Shetland, Scotland, dating to the Iron Age. The monument consists of a circular stone tower characteristic of the broch type, a distinctive fortified structure unique to northern Britain and particularly common in Shetland and Orkney during the later Iron Age period. The broch would have served as a defensive and residential structure for a prominent local family or community group. Like many Shetland brochs, Burra Ness demonstrates the sophisticated dry-stone construction techniques employed in Iron Age Scotland, with the characteristic hollow-walled circular design that provided both structural strength and distinctive architectural presence on the landscape.

Burra Ness, broch, Yell is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2063. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Burra Ness, broch, Yell?

Burra Ness is a broch situated on the peninsula of Burra Ness on the island of Yell in Shetland, Scotland, dating to the Iron Age. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2063.

What period does Burra Ness, broch, Yell date from?

Burra Ness, broch, Yell dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a broch, yell. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Burra Ness, broch, Yell?

Burra Ness, broch, Yell 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 SM2063.

What other scheduled monuments are near Burra Ness, broch, Yell?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Sna Brough,broch,Ness of Snabrough (3.2 km), Broch, 40m NE of Brough Lodge (3.9 km), Mula, rectangular house 150m ENE of Head of Mula, Unst (4.1 km).

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