The Tower People of Shetland
Brochs are large stone-built towers. These imposing drystone structures,standing from 5m to 13m high, were erected for defense by the Iron Age tribes of Northern Britain. They are some of the most impressive works of prehistoric man in Western Europe.
A typical broch was a circular, two-story stone-built drystone structure accessed by a single door at ground level. Where it is possible that some brochs were no more than fortified dwellings, the majority undoubtedly had a defensive function, characterised by immensely thick outer walls. These walls comprised of two layers of stone with a hollow space in between. These two outer “skins” were bonded are certain heights by stone lintel slabs. This method allowed the broch’s constructors to build to a greater height than could have been achieved with solid walls. Their position, often near fertile land, their height and outlook over the landscape all lead one to think that they are status symbols; with the local chief showing off his wealth and power. Shetland had quite a high population in the Iron Age, and if these brochs were built to solely protect the native population from outside attackers, they would have been unable to protect a very high percentage of the people.
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