Tappoch Broch facts for kids
Southern side of Tappoch Broch
|
|
 Location in Falkirk
|
|
| Location | Falkirk |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 56°02′37″N 3°52′28″W / 56.043487°N 3.874351°W |
| Type | Broch |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age, Roman |
Tappoch Broch, also known as Torwood Broch, is an ancient stone tower from the Iron Age. It is found hidden in a thick forest near Falkirk, Scotland. Brochs are special roundhouses built by people long ago in Scotland.
Contents
Discovering Tappoch Broch
People first started digging at Tappoch Broch in 1864. A man named Colonel Joseph Dundas led this first dig. Since then, smaller digs have happened now and then.
Recently, a group called Archaeology Scotland helped clean up the site. They worked with Forestry Commission Scotland. They removed plants that were growing over the ruins. Then, they used laser scanning to survey the broch. This helps us learn more about its structure.
What Tappoch Broch Looks Like
The walls of Tappoch Broch are very thick, about six metres (20 feet) wide. Some parts of the walls still stand two or three metres (6 to 10 feet) high. However, some sections have fallen down over time. The broch was built using a method called dry stonework. This means large, uneven stones were stacked without any mortar. These stones came from the area nearby.
The main room inside the broch is oval-shaped. It measures about 10.8 by 9.8 metres (35 by 32 feet). The floor of this room was paved. There was a large spot in the middle where fires were likely made.
Getting Inside
You can enter the broch from the southeast side. Some fallen stones are still in the entrance passage. About halfway along this passage, there's a special stop for a door. It even has a latch for a wooden door beam.
The Hidden Staircase
In the southwest part of the main room, a short passage leads to a staircase. This staircase is built right into the wall and is very well-preserved. In 1864, there were eleven steps. Some of these steps have been lost since then. The side walls of the stairs lean inwards. This suggests the staircase might have had a special arched roof called a cantilever vault.
There is also a small room in the northeast part of the wall. However, this room seems to have been added much later, not when the broch was first built.
A Protected Site
Tappoch Broch is now a scheduled monument. This means it's a very important historical site. It is protected by law to make sure it is preserved for the future.
What Was Found Here
Unlike some other broches in the Lowlands, not many items were found at Tappoch Broch. There were no Roman objects found here.
However, archaeologists did find some interesting things. These included:
- Saddle querns and rotary querns: These were stones used for grinding grain into flour.
- A possible stone 'lamp': This might have been used for light.
- Several sherds of coarse pottery: These are broken pieces of simple clay pots.
Images for kids
-
Tappoch Broch stairs
-
Tappoch Broch entrance
-
Tappoch Broch Stairwell
-
The approach to Tappoch Broch
-
Tappoch Broch - northern side
