The old and the new

This is looking across the site of the Broch at Old Scatness in Shetland to the runway at Sumburgh Airport.

Old Scatness was discovered during roadworks in 1975, when workmen unearthed it whilst driving a new road for the airport through an earthen mound. Now believed to date from c.400-200BC, this Iron Age Broch and village is recognised as one of the significant archaeological finds in Northern Europe.

There are approximately 100 Brochs on Shetland, and Old Scatness combined with those at nearby Jarlshof and Mousa are recognised as among the best examples of this uniquely Scottish construction.