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In archaeology, an Atlantic roundhouse is an Iron Age stone building found in the northern and western parts of mainland Scotland, the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.
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Types of structure
A form of dry-stone Iron Age dwelling, they are unique to the region, and are subdivided by the archaeologists into two broad types - simple and complex. According to this theory they marked a movement away from the earlier externally unprepossessing types of dwelling, such as those at Skara Brae, towards structures which were more dominating features in the landscape.
An example of a simple Atlantic roundhouse is at Bu in Orkney, while complex structures include the brochs, duns and wheelhouses.
Although constructed out of stone, they are thought to have had a conical wooden roof similar to that of the timber roundhouses found elsewhere.
Examples can be found at Dun Ringill on Skye, Dun Carloway on Lewis, Pierowall on Westray and Jarlshof in Shetland.
Modern reconstruction
Dunvegan Community Trust plan to re-create an Iron Age roundhouse structure at Orbost on Skye with the help of National Lottery funding.