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Caisteal Grugaig

Coordinates: 57°15′59″N 5°32′21″W / 57.26649°N 5.539271°W / 57.26649; -5.539271
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Caisteal Grugaig
Interior of Caisteal Grugaig
Caisteal Grugaig is located in Highland
Caisteal Grugaig
Shown within Highland
LocationScottish Highlands
Coordinates57°15′59″N 5°32′21″W / 57.26649°N 5.539271°W / 57.26649; -5.539271
TypeBroch
History
PeriodsIron Age

Caisteal Grugaig (or Dun Totaig) is an Iron Age broch near the eastern end of Loch Alsh in the Scottish Highlands (grid reference NG86682508).

Location

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The broch is located in the district of Lochalsh, and is about 9 kilometres northwest of Shiel Bridge.[1] It stands on a small rocky knoll on a grassy slope.[2]

The "Glenelg Brochs" of Dun Telve and Dun Troddan are a few miles to the south.[2] Caisteal Grugaig should not be confused with the "semi-broch" known as Dun Grugaig which is also near Glenelg.[3]

Description

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The broch has an external diameter of around 16.5 metres and an internal diameter of around 9.6 metres.[2] The broch was built on uneven ground, so the natural floor of the broch has a slope.[2] The entrance passage is on the northeast side and has a massive triangular lintel over the doorway.[1] There is an elongated guard cell on the left side of the entrance passage.[2]

A photo of the Caisteal Grugaig entrance showing the distinctive lintel stone
Caisteal Grugaig entrance
A passageway in the wall of the Caisteal Grugaig broch.

The interior of the broch has two intramural rooms at ground level, one of which is a small, oval cell.[2] The other is a long mural cell, or length of ground gallery, which has a blocked doorway.[2] The sides of an upper room are apparent above the entrance passage.[2] Also inside the broch is a doorway to the mural stair. The five steps of the stair lead up to a long landing which leads to the beginning of a second flight of stairs.[2]

Excavations

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The broch was cleared out in 1889 and no detailed record of the excavation seems to have survived.[2] Another attempt at excavation was conducted in 1924 with minimal results.[2] In the National Museum of Scotland is a decorated steatite cup apparently from this site.[2]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Ritchie, J N G (1998). Brochs of Scotland. Shire Publications. p. 45. ISBN 0747803897.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Historic Environment Scotland. "Caisteal Grugaig (11812)". Canmore. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  3. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Dun Grugaig, Glenelg (11772)". Canmore. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
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Media related to Caisteal Grugaig at Wikimedia Commons

57°15′59″N 5°32′21″W / 57.26649°N 5.539271°W / 57.26649; -5.539271