Inarchaeology, anAtlantic roundhouse is anIron Age stone building found in the northern and western parts of mainlandScotland, theNorthern Isles and theHebrides.
Circular houses were the predominant architectural style of the British landscape since the second millennium BC (Early Bronze Age). Although not many of these roundhouses have survived, it has been ascertained that they were based onwattle and daub walls withthatchedconical roofs.[1]
In 1970, archaeologist Chris Musson estimated that there were 200 certified roundhouses in Scotland and Britain. A United Kingdom-based archaeology group today estimates that there are over 4000 roundhouses. The oldest documented roundhouse was founded in the3rd millennium BC in South-West Scotland. The Bronze Age people were known to adapt to the leveled upland landscapes situated in hillsides.[2]
A form ofdry-stone Iron Age dwelling, they are unique to the region and are subdivided by the archaeologists into two broad types -simple andcomplex. According to this theory, they marked a movement away from the earlier, externally unprepossessing types of dwelling, such as those atSkara Brae, towards structures which were more dominating features in the landscape.
An example of asimple Atlantic roundhouse is at Bu inOrkney, whilecomplex structures include thebrochs,duns andwheelhouses.
Although constructed out of stone, they are thought to have had a conical wooden roof similar to that of the timberroundhouses found elsewhere.
Examples can be found atDun Ringill onSkye,Dun Carloway onLewis,Pierowall onWestray andJarlshof inShetland.
DunveganCommunity Trust plans to re-create an Iron Age roundhouse structure at Orbost onSkye with the help ofNational Lottery funding.[3]
TheSociety of Antiquaries of Scotland undertook a project to reexamine the Atlantic roundhouses of theTarbat Peninsula,Easter Ross by takingkite photographs of the sites, surveys, and excavation led by archaeologists. The reconstructions show spherical enclosures famous for the roundhouses with early Iron Age turf and timber roundhouse.[4]
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