The continuity of status in Iron Age settlements through metallurgical craft specialisation and material wealth
type: CreativeWork
description: Brochs are found mainly along the Atlantic seaboard of Scotland. This research focuses on the period from approximately 500BC to 850AD and aims to demonstrate that the status settlements seen in the broch period in Orkney and Shetland retain this status in the post-broch period. Broch settlements reflect status and the control and use of metal is embodied within the social system. On certain sites, this system continues into the Late Iron Age and although monumentality recedes, control of craft specialisation metalworking is sustained. The natural resources required in order to have the ability to produce metal and the types of debris resulting from copper alloy and iron production are investigated. Evidence from the on-going excavation at Old Scatness Broch is examined in depth and in particular an assemblage of metalworking moulds. The XRF analysis of these led to experimental work on the absorption of zinc into the fabric of fired clay moulds during the casting of copper alloys and to a review of previous XRF analyses of some Iron Age copper alloy artefacts and metalworking debris from N orthem Isles and some British sites. Experimental casting was carried out at Old Scatness Broch so that the type and spread of metalworking debris could be assessed. Archaeological evidence for metal use, metalworking and imported artefacts, which are taken to reflect high status, are examined and together with documentary and ethnographic evidence are used to propose models for broch and post-broch society in the Northern Isles.
abstract: Brochs are found mainly along the Atlantic seaboard of Scotland. This research focuses on the period from approximately 500BC to 850AD and aims to demonstrate that the status settlements seen in the broch period in Orkney and Shetland retain this status in the post-broch period. Broch settlements reflect status and the control and use of metal is embodied within the social system. On certain sites, this system continues into the Late Iron Age and although monumentality recedes, control of craft specialisation metalworking is sustained. The natural resources required in order to have the ability to produce metal and the types of debris resulting from copper alloy and iron production are investigated. Evidence from the on-going excavation at Old Scatness Broch is examined in depth and in particular an assemblage of metalworking moulds. The XRF analysis of these led to experimental work on the absorption of zinc into the fabric of fired clay moulds during the casting of copper alloys and to a review of previous XRF analyses of some Iron Age copper alloy artefacts and metalworking debris from N orthem Isles and some British sites. Experimental casting was carried out at Old Scatness Broch so that the type and spread of metalworking debris could be assessed. Archaeological evidence for metal use, metalworking and imported artefacts, which are taken to reflect high status, are examined and together with documentary and ethnographic evidence are used to propose models for broch and post-broch society in the Northern Isles.
author: Milns, Julie
language: en
keywords: Orkney, Shetland, Iron Age Settlements, Artefacts, Status resources, Metal production
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:13:45Z
provider: University of Bradford
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Bradford