THE Caithness Broch Project, aimed at bringing the prehistoric legacy of the far north of Scotland to life, has become an internet hit after The National pledged its support and helped to spread the word about its ambitious plans.
Scores of readers signed up to the broch project after our series of articles explaining how a team hopes to build an Iron Age broch site and visitor centre, with membership soaring to 330.
There has also been phenomenal reaction on Twitter and Facebook to our stories.
The National has become the project’s media partner to help boost a host of major events lined up to celebrate Scottish Government’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017 and achieve its ultimate goal of becoming a world heritage centre similar to the Unesco Heart of Neolithic Orkney site.
Proposals for next year include an archaeology festival, with excavation at several brochs with the help of the University of the Highlands and Islands Orkney Archaeology Institute, a tour of schools with a specially designed Lego broch, working with the local Caithness Horizons museum, and a host of community outreach projects.
The project team is also looking at the consolidation and conservation of an existing broch in Caithness, called Ousdale. It was, until recently, the finest broch in the area but it has sadly fallen into disrepair.
Kenneth McElroy, chairman of the Caithness Broch Project, said: “The reaction on social media has been amazing and very positive about us partnering up with The National.
“We have had a boost in our membership, which is great, but we need more members to help us make this a reality because it is going to cost quite a bit of money.”
Caithness has more 180 brochs, more than anywhere else in Scotland. However, most of them have been left to crumble for many years and only remnants remain. To recreate a 13m-high drystone tower, the Caithness Broch Project will have to raise in the region of £1 million.
Local tradespeople skilled in Caithness drystone dyking methods will be brought in to construct the broch, with building work estimated to take three years.
It will house replica furniture, such as stone beds lined with moss, a tourist centre and a neighbouring workshop where visitors will learn how the broch was created.
The project has the backing of Archaeology Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland (HES), VisitScotland and Dig It! 2017, the University of the Highlands and Islands Orkney Archaeology Institute and the local Caithness Horizons museum.
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