 Edin's Hall Broch, aerial photograph | |
  Shown within Scottish Borders | |
| Alternative name | Edinshall Broch |
|---|---|
| Location | Duns |
| Coordinates | 55°50′08″N2°21′53″W / 55.835506°N 2.364856°W |
| Type | Broch |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | Historic Scotland |
| Public access | Yes |
Edin's Hall Broch (also Edinshall Broch; Woden's Hall Broch) is a 2nd-century broch near Duns in the Borders of Scotland. It is one of very few brochs found in southern Scotland. [1] It is roughly 28 metres in diameter.
In the late 18th century this site was called "Woden's Hall or Castle" (Woden being the chief god from Anglo-Saxon mythology). [2] Its later name change apparently recalls the legend of the three-headed giant The Red Ettin known in tales and ballads. [2]
Edin's Hall Broch is one of the most southerly broch survivals, which are more typically associated with Northern Scotland. [3] It is 4 miles north of the town of Duns. [3] It stands on the northeast slope of Cockburn Law just above a fairly steep slope down to the Whiteadder Water. [4]
The broch stands in the northwest corner an Iron Age hillfort which presumably pre-dates the broch. [4] The hillfort consists of a double rampart and ditches, enclosing an oval area some 135 metres by 75 metres. [4] The entrance was on the west side. [4] A large circular structure (roundhouse) in the centre of the fort, close to the broch, may have been the most important building before the broch's construction. [5]
It is assumed that the hillfort dates to the pre-Roman Iron Age. The date of the broch is uncertain but it has been speculated that it was built between the two main periods of Roman occupation in Scotland: some time in the 2nd century AD. Excavations at Torwoodlee Broch, also in the Scottish Borders, has shown that it was built and demolished during this period. [6]
Within the hillfort is an array of stone footings marking the positions of houses and other structures. [5] Some of the houses overlie the defences – indicating that they are later than hillfort and may be later than the broch as well. [4]
The broch has an external diameter of 28 metres, [4] and an internal diameter of 17 metres. [3] This is unusually large compared with a typical Highland broch and suggests that it may not have been as tall as the northern brochs. [5] The walls of the broch survive to a height of between 1.0 and 1.8 metres. [4] The entrance passage is on the east side and has two guard chambers flanking the doorway. [4] The interior of the broch has three intramural cells which are all approximately dumb-bell shaped. [4] The cell on the south side has the remains of a stone stairway at its north end which presumably rose to the wallhead. [4]
The broch lies within a rectangular enclosure measuring about 58 by 54 metres. [4]
Edin's Hall was "cleared" by antiquarians in the 19th century. [4] The relics recovered were donated to the National Museum of Scotland. These included a stone spindle whorl, a piece of a jet ring, an amber bead, bones, an oyster shell, and a fragment of a glass bracelet. [4]
Two copper ingots, one of which is now in the National Museum, were apparently found with a metal detector inside the broch in 1976. [4] The ingots were derived from local copper mines and may have been an important source of wealth for the inhabitants. [4]
An archaeological survey and sample excavation was conducted in 1996. [4] A few artefacts including coarse pottery and a stone spindle whorl were recovered. [4]
In archaeology, a broch is an Iron Age drystone hollow-walled structure found in Scotland. Brochs belong to the classification "complex Atlantic roundhouse" devised by Scottish archaeologists in the 1980s.
The Broch of Clickimin is a large, well-preserved but restored broch in Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland. Originally built on an island in Clickimin Loch, it was approached by a stone causeway. The broch is situated within a walled enclosure and, unusually for brochs, features a large "forework" or "blockhouse" between the opening in the enclosure and the broch itself. The site is maintained by Historic Scotland. According to its excavator, John R.C. Hamilton, there were several periods of occupation of the site: Late Bronze Age farmstead, Early Iron Age farmstead, Iron Age fort, broch period, and wheelhouse settlement.
Dun Carloway is a broch situated in the district of Carloway, on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. It is a remarkably well preserved broch – on the east side parts of the old wall still reach to 9 metres tall.
Càrn Liath is an Iron Age broch on the eastern shore of the Scottish Highlands, near Golspie, Sutherland.
Burroughston Broch is an Iron Age broch located on the island of Shapinsay in the Orkney Islands, in Scotland. The site overlooks the North Sea on the northeast part of Shapinsay. Excavated in the mid 19th century, Burroughston Broch is still well-preserved. The drystone walls are up to four metres thick in some parts and there is a complete chamber intact off the entrance passage. Some remains of stone fittings are evident in the interior.
Bow Castle is the remains of an iron-age broch near the Gala Water, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, in the parish of Stow. It is a scheduled monument.
Dun Telve is an iron-age broch located about four kilometres (2.5 mi) southeast of the village of Glenelg, Inverness-shire in the Highland Region of Scotland. It is one of the best preserved brochs in Scotland.
Dun Troddan is an iron-age broch located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) southeast of the village of Glenelg, Highland, in Scotland. It is one of the best-preserved brochs in Scotland.
Dun Beag is an iron-age broch located about 1 kilometre northwest of the village of Struan on the west coast of the island of Skye, in Scotland.
Torwoodlee Broch is the remains of an iron-age broch located near the town of Galashiels in the Scottish Borders.
Dun an Sticir is an Iron Age broch situated approximately 9.5 kilometers north of Lochmaddy in a loch on North Uist in the Scottish Outer Hebrides. A building was erected on the site in the late medieval period.
Tirefour Castle, is an Iron Age broch located 4 kilometres north of Achnacroish on the island of Lismore, Scotland.
The Broch of Borwick is an Iron Age broch located on Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. It is a scheduled monument.
Clumlie Broch is an Iron Age broch located on Mainland, Shetland, in Scotland.
Dun Fiadhairt is an Iron Age broch located on the north coast of the island of Skye, in Scotland.
Dun Hallin is an Iron Age broch located near the northwest coast of the island of Skye, in Scotland.
Caisteal Grugaig is an Iron Age broch near the eastern end of Loch Alsh in the Scottish Highlands.
Dun Vulan Broch is an Iron Age broch in South Uist, Scotland.
Dun Cruinn is a prehistoric site about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north-west of Portree, on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It is on the Skerinish Peninsula, between Loch Snizort Beag and Loch Eyre.
