Dun Borrafiach facts for kids
Dun Borrafiach, south side
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 Location in Isle of Skye
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| Location | Skye |
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| Coordinates | 57°34′43″N 6°37′35″W / 57.578588°N 6.62633°W |
| Type | Broch |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age |
Dun Borrafiach is an amazing ancient stone tower, called a broch. It was built a very long time ago during the Iron Age. You can find it on the beautiful Isle of Skye in Scotland.
Brochs are special kinds of round stone towers. People built them in Scotland over 2,000 years ago. They were often used as homes and strongholds. Dun Borrafiach gives us clues about how people lived back then.
Discover Dun Borrafiach's Location
Dun Borrafiach is located on the Waternish peninsula. This area is on the northwest coast of the Isle of Skye. It sits about 8 kilometres (5 miles) from the small village of Lusta.
The broch was built on a rocky hill. This spot gives it a great view of the land around it. It also overlooks the Borrafiach Burn, which is a small stream. This high, rocky place was perfect for keeping watch and staying safe.
Exploring the Ancient Broch
Dun Borrafiach is a large and impressive structure. The outside of the tower measures about 16.5 metres (54 feet) across. Imagine a circle that wide!
The stone walls still stand quite tall in some places. On the south side, they reach a height of 2.7 metres (nearly 9 feet). This shows us how strong and well-built these ancient towers were.
The main entrance to the broch is on its northwest side. It's interesting because one part of the entrance looks like it was made narrower later on. This might have been done to make it even harder for enemies to get inside.
Inside the broch, you can still see parts of a special passage. This passage is called an "intramural gallery." It runs inside the thick stone walls. People in the Iron Age would have used these passages. They might have used them to move around or for storage.
Life in the Iron Age
The Iron Age in Scotland lasted from about 800 BC to AD 400. This was a time when people started using iron tools. They built strong stone structures like brochs. These towers were often built by important families. They showed off their power and protected their communities.
Life was tough during the Iron Age. People farmed, hunted, and raised animals. Brochs like Dun Borrafiach were central to their lives. They offered protection from bad weather and other tribes. They were also places for people to gather and live together.
Studying places like Dun Borrafiach helps us learn about our past. It shows us how clever and strong ancient people were. They built amazing structures that still stand today.
