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Old Scatness Broch & Iron Age Village
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Old Scatness Broch & Iron Age Village

The Scatness site has been open to the public, following excavations The Scatness site has been open to the public, following excavationsZoom

Old Scatness Broch and Iron Age Village lay undiscovered beneath our feet for over a millennium. Join us as we uncover the mystery, myth and legend of this world class heritage site.

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Visiting the Site

CANCELLED: Tours of OLD SCATNESS on Wednesday 31 January are cancelled due to the yellow weather warning.

*Archaeology Tours for group bookings of up to 25 people are available on request (excluding weekends). Group booking fee applies.Please contact info@shetlandamenity.org for further information.

Discover Ancient Shetland

The Iron Age Broch and Iron Age Village at Old Scatness was an undisturbed, pristine time capsule when first discovered in 1975, as the result of a road being put through what was thought to be a natural mound.  The road was realigned to protect the site when it was identified as a broch by a local historian.  Some twenty years later, excavations were initiated by Shetland Amenity Trust as part of an “Access to Heritage” project.  From its inception, the aim was to excavate the site to the highest possible standard, while breaking down the perceived academic barriers of archaeology.

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From the beginning, local volunteers were involved with the excavation, and took the opportunity to train alongside the students until the excavations came to an end. The site has since been open every year during the summer season, with guided tours for visitors who can also spend time by the fire in the reconstructed buildings. 

Old Scatness Broch & Iron Age Village is on the tentative list for World Heritage Status in conjunction with Mousa Broch and Jarlshof.  Find out more here.