Clumlie Broch, Iron Age archaeological site in Dunrossness, Shetland Islands, Scotland.
Clumlie Broch is a circular stone structure from the Iron Age that sits on a gentle rise in Dunrossness, featuring thick drystone walls with an entrance preserved to lintel height. Inside, a central hearth and an inner wall layer were revealed during excavations.
The broch was built during the Iron Age and remained a quiet relic of ancient architecture until the 19th century. In 1890, archaeologist Gilbert Goudie carried out a partial excavation that revealed the building's inner structure and use.
The place shows how Iron Age communities in Scotland protected their homes from intruders and arranged their living spaces within thick stone walls. The round shape and careful construction reflect what mattered most to residents then: defense and family life together.
The site sits in open countryside in Dunrossness and is easiest to reach from Sumburgh. Good weather gear is advisable since the place sits on exposed ground with little shelter from wind or rain.
The entrance passage displays original door frames and a guard chamber on the right side, showing how Iron Age builders thought through security carefully. These details are rarely so well preserved and offer insight into the daily precautions people took back then.
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