Clachtoll Broch

Clachtoll Broch is a spectacular Iron Age drystone tower on a precipitous coastal outcrop in Assynt, Sutherland, in the Scottish Highlands, built approximately 2,500 years ago. Dubbed the 'Pompeii of Brochs,' the structure was destroyed in a catastrophic fire around 50 AD, which paradoxically created anaerobic conditions that preserved an extraordinary assemblage of artifacts. Community excavations led by AOC Archaeology from 2017 revealed the broch served as an Iron Age farmhouse, uncovering charred cereal grains, iron sickles, stone lamps, spindle whorls, copper alloy pins, and a rare surviving fiber of ancient yarn. Within the thick drystone walls were small cells used for grain storage, and a central hearth served as the focal point for cooking, crafts, and social life. The excavation was prompted by coastal erosion threatening the structure.