The Crucible of Iron Age Shetland

The Crucible of Iron Age Shetland is a complex of prehistoric monuments scattered across the Shetland Islands. Currently, it is a possible candidate for inclusion in the list of sites under the protection of UNESCO.

On the islands of Mousa, Old Scatness and Jarlshof, which are part of the Shetland archipelago, archaeologists have found archaeological phenomena typical only for Scotland: brochs. Broch is a “fortress” built during the Iron Age by dry masonry, that is, without the use of fastening solution.

On the island of Mousa, which is located 1 kilometer from the east coast of the mainland, is the most famous of the brochs. It became such because of its impressive height. It is still the tallest prehistoric building in Europe. It is assumed that it was built around 100 BC.

16 kilometers from Mousa is another island - Old Scatness. Here you can find buildings not only of the Iron Age, but also of the Bronze Age, as well as the Middle Ages. This island has been inhabited for thousands of years, so each new generation added more and more buildings. Broch was discovered in 1975, and its construction is timed to 300 BC.

Near Old Scatness is Jarlshof Island. It has been called one of the most remarkable archaeological sites ever excavated in the British Isles. There are buildings, the date of construction of which varies from 2500 BC to the XVII century.