Talk: Loch of Ayre with ‘show and tell’ beforehand

Broch and Beyond: Past and Present Investigations at the Loch of Ayre

By Martin Carruthers and Amanda Brend

This event will showcase the recent geophysical surveys undertaken at Loch of Ayre broch by ORCA, UHI Archaeology Institute for the St Mary’s community and the Loch of Ayre Walkway Association.

The geophysical surveys were successful in revealing the probable existence of an extramural settlement associated with the Loch of Ayre broch and in helping to determine its character and extent. The survey also added to our picture of the landscape around, beyond the Scheduled Area of the broch site, hinting at the possibility of other settlement features, some of which may be associated with the broch, and cultivation remains from the Medieval/post-Medieval periods.

Meanwhile, the archaeologists will also discuss the excavations of the broch that were undertaken in 1901, in which the interior of the broch and its outer and inner walls were exposed. A range of objects; artefacts and animal bones, were excavated and some of these were beautifully photographed and we can discuss these in terms of other, more recently, excavated assemblages from Orcadian Iron Age sites and pace the old finds in context.

A special feature of the event is a ‘show-and-tell’ from 4:30 . The archaeologists encourage anyone attending to bring along any potential archaeological objects they might have found, and they will seek to identify these.