Torwood (Tappoch) Broch

This Iron Age dwelling was excavated from a large mound in 1864. It is one of the best examples of a lowland Broch, and dates from around 500 BC. It is situated on a now tree covered hill at Torwood, near Falkirk.
Broch`s were circular stone defensive dwellings which rose to several storys high.
The walls at ground level are 20 feet thick, and the surviving structure is about 7 feet high.
Sadly it has deteriorated greatly since excavation, and has not been cared for. This is sad for such an old surviving structure which is part of Scotland`s history.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Scotland
• history
• Broch
• Iron
• Age
• Torwood
• Tappoch
• dwelling
• lowland
• defensive
• archaeology
• ancient
• ruin
• stone
• BC

[welshboi1649]

500bce? A few centuries out tbh :) The earliest brochs, in the far north, may date to 3-400bce but most date from the first century bce and this one, being so far south, almost certainly does.

Nice video though, I love this place.

On it's defensibility, I doubt it was meant as a defence as the Romans, who had a supply route running just down the hill from it, would doubtful have tolerated a native defensive structure so close to their road.

[acerb45666555]

1:23.....the imagination sees all the ones who walked on those steps! i can see 17th century Edinborough dandies in beaver hats and frock coats strolling about the place scratching drawings in theyre note books! i also see the previous hyped up vikings storming down those steps lookin for anything they could get!

[BillDFC]

Excellent and informative.

[johnsherry57]

Thanks for this excellent video I have lived in this area for years and only recently learned of its existence. It looks as if it was built to make it easy to defend and keep people safe.