Prince Charles gets glimpse of Iron Age at Nybster broch
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THE remains of a sickle – possibly dating from the late Iron Age – was uncovered at Nybster broch yesterday during a visit by Prince Charles.
The prince, who studied archaeology for a year when he was a student at Cambridge University, was said to be “very interested” in the find which comprised a curved handle and the remains of an attached blade.
It was about five inches long and is thought to have been used as a sickle or saw in the late iron or medieval age.
Nybster broch is regarded as one of the most important sites of its kind in the county with a history stretching back over 2000 years.
Many of the finds from the site are rare for the area and include metalworked items, jewellery and Roman pottery indicating inhabitants of the site were of considerable status. The broch is also associated with Pictish and Viking settlements.
The prince was introduced to some of the experts and volunteers involved in excavation work which just got under way this week. Work was also carried out at the broch earlier in the year and in 2004.
Prince Charles – known as the Duke of Rothesay when he is in Scotland – walked to the site with Dr Andy Heald, of AOC Archaeology, and Pat Buchanan, of the Caithness Archaeological Trust, after visiting the Caithness Broch Centre at Auckengill.
The prince, wearing a Rothesay tartan kilt, met some of the teachers and pupils from Keiss Primary School who have done projects on brochs. A number of the youngsters were taking part in a small dig near the main site.
Ten-year-old Lilli Ellis, who is in primary five, was one of those involved. She helped find two bits of flint and thought it was “exciting” Prince Charles was visiting the site. She described him as “a nice man” and said brochs were among her favourite subjects.
Dr Heald told the Caithness Courier Prince Charles was very interested in what was going on at the site and was very knowledgeable about archaeology. While the prince was at Cambridge one of his tutors was the eminent archaeologist Glyn Daniel, who edited the academic journal Antiquity from 1958 to 1985.
Mrs Buchanan said His Royal Highness was keen to know more about Sir Francis Tress Barry who first excavated the broch – along with others in the area – in the 19th century.
“He is genuinely interested in what’s going on here and is very knowledgeable,” she said.
David Whiteford, the chairman of the prince’s North Highland Initiative, said Caithness has some fantastic archaeological sites which could help attract visitors to the area. He hoped the prince’s visit would help give the Nybster broch and others the recognition they deserve.
Earlier, the prince was met by the Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness, Anne Dunnett, at the Caithness Broch Centre. She introduced him to some of the people who were involved in transforming the former John Nicolson Museum into the centre which was completed in July 2009.
The prince was then taken into the hall to view some of the displays which focus on the story of the local community and its relationship with the brochs over time.
They included finds from the earlier excavations which have been returned on loan from National Museums Scotland.
A legacy of the broch centre was the establishment of the Auckengill Heritage Trust.
It was formally constituted last year and is actively involved in developing the cultural heritage of the local area.
Chairman John Green was “delighted” with the visit by the prince and hoped it would help promote the centre. The trust would like to see the facility and its links with the broch become an attraction for tourists and locals alike.
Centre assistant Carla Robertson, from Keiss, was one of the people who met the prince during his visit.
She described him as “a very friendly man” and said he was “very interested” in what he saw.
The broch centre project and related excavation work received support from the local community, National Museums Scotland, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Highland 2007, AOC Archaeology Group, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Highland Leader Programme, the Caithness Discretionary Fund, Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council and Caithness Archaeological Trust.
