Statement of National Importance
The national importance of the monument is demonstrated in the following way(s) (see Designations Policy and Selection Guidance, Annex 1, para 17):
a. The monument is of national importance because it makes a significant contribution to our understanding and appreciation of the past as a broch dating to the Iron Age (800BC-400AD) which incorporates a cup marked rock dating from the Neolithic (4100 BC – 2500 BC) to Bronze Age (2500 BC – 800 BC) and which is surrounded by a complex of outer works.
b. The monument retains structural, architectural and other physical attributes which make a significant contribution to our understanding and appreciation of the past, in particular the monuments original plan is clearly understandable, it retains its entrance, staircase, a cup and ring marked rock and a complex of outer works.
c. The monument is a rare example of a lowland broch whose occupation and abandonment may predate the initial Roman invasion of Scotland.
d. The monument is a particularly good example of a lowland broch with surviving outer works and is therefore an important representative of this monument type.
e. The monument has research potential which could significantly contribute to our understanding or appreciation of the past. There is the potential for surviving artefacts and discrete deposits containing environmental remains suitable for scientific analysis and radiocarbon dating. Further investigation of the cup marked rock could provide information about when and how they were created and their reuse in later prehistory.
f. The monument makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the prehistoric landscape and appreciation of the current landscape. It occupied a strong position with natural defences overlooking other broadly contemporary sites. A comparative study of the broch with similar monuments on a local and national scale could help us to better understand the reasons behind their construction and distribution and their relation to changing settlement patterns and land use.
Assessment of Cultural Significance
This statement of national importance has been informed by the following assessment of cultural significance:
Intrinsic characteristics (how the remains of a site or place contribute to our knowledge of the past)
This is a well-preserved lowland broch with outer defences. It retains many of the characteristic features of this site type including wall passages, stairs and chambers, and outer defences. The fabric incorporates a cup marked rock dating from the Neolithic (4100 BC – 2500 BC) to Bronze Age (2500 BC – 800 BC), one of a number found at the site.
The site was excavated by Joseph Dundas in the 1860s and this identified large quantities of carbonized wood at the site suggesting that the broch had been destroyed by fire. It is unclear whether this firing was deliberate or accidental. A range of stone, iron and ceramic artefacts have been discovered during three phases of excavation at the broch. This included artefacts made of steatite, a stone which is not local to the area, with sources in the northwest of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland. Other examples of steatite artefacts have been found at other brochs in Scotland such as at An Dun, Clachtoll (scheduled monument SM1831). Its presence points to Tappoch Broch being part of a wider trade network.
In 2014 excavation relocated the third rampart. Material recovered was radiocarbon dated to the Neolithic and was likely redeposited from an earlier ground surface. This along with flint tools recovered demonstrate recurring human activity at the site during prehistory. The discovery of medieval pottery suggests the site was reused during the 13th-14th centuries.
The broch incorporates a cup marked rock within the staircase corridor. It is positioned so as to be seen and touched only by those who knew where to look. may have been of particular significance to the occupants. During the excavations in the 1860s other cup and ring marked rocks were found; three are now in the National Museum of Scotland and a fourth may remain on site conceal by rubble. It is thought the examples at Tappoch were quarried from a bedrock panel somewhere in the general vicinity.
Although the broch and surrounding area have been excavated, the site still has potential to support future archaeological research. There are areas that remain unexcavated where buried structural remains and archaeological deposits are likely to survive. Detailed study of the broch, its outer works and surrounding area can tell us how the site developed over an extended period of time, in particular, its occupation and construction, use, reuse, repair and abandonment. A broad range of artefacts have also been shown to survive and these have the potential to tell us about the social status and lifestyle of the inhabitants, including personal decoration, diet and daily activities such as textile and metal working in addition to the local economy, agriculture and trade.
Contextual characteristics (how a site or place relates to its surroundings and/or to our existing knowledge of the past)
The monument is located at the highest point in Tor Wood, approximately 120m above sea level. To the northwest is a sandstone cliff. The broch was in a prominent position in the landscape with natural defences and extensive views of the surrounding area and other broadly contemporary settlements such as Carr's Hill fort (scheduled monument SM1731; 1.2km northwest); Doghillock dun (scheduled monument SM6929; 1.2km southwest) and Braes fort (scheduled monument SM456; 3.6km west). The broch would also have had a clear view across the Forth to Castle Law fort on Dumyat (scheduled monument SM2182; 12.5km north).
To the southwest of the broch runs a Roman road (scheduled monument SM2217; 215m). Other brochs in the Forth Valley have been shown to be in use over the three periods of Roman invasion and occupation of Scotland [Governor Agricola (c.AD79-84) and Emperors Antoninus Pius. (c.AD139-142) and Septimius Severus (c. AD 208-211)]. However, no Roman artefacts have been recovered from Tappoch Broch, suggesting the broch could have been occupied and abandoned prior to the first century AD. However, with no radiocarbon dates for the broch structure, occupation contemporary with the Roman invasions remains a possibility. The road may also follow a much earlier route through the landscape with the broch located to have observed or controlled this.
Brochs are a widespread class of monument found across northern Scotland with notable concentrations in Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles and the northwest Highlands. Brochs occur far less frequently in central and southern Scotland. The monument is part of this small group of lowland brochs and is therefore a rare example of the monument type.
Broch towers are primarily seen as a specific development of complex Atlantic roundhouses. They were large complex structures that would have taken a significant amount of time and resource to build. They may have been the residences of an elite group within Iron Age societies with space to house members of an extended family. Other interpretations have stressed their likely role as fortified or defensive sites, possibly serving a community across a wider area. Brochs are complex structures likely to have had numerous purposes and a complex role in prehistoric society. This example has a particularly complex development sequence of construction, destruction, repair, adaption and abandonment.
Cup marked rocks are mostly found on panels of exposed bedrock, but they can be found close to or incorporated within much later monument types, including brochs as with this example. Other examples include Dun Mor a' Chaolais on Tiree (scheduled monument SM6906) and at Leckie House broch (scheduled monument SM3099), another lowland broch. This is part of a wider pattern of reuse of cup marked rocks at Iron Age sites and there is the potential to study the monument in relation to other prehistoric settlements and sites of cup marked rocks on a local and national scale. The broch could be studied in relation to other broadly contemporary sites to help us better understand their interrelationship; reasons for their choice of location; significance in Iron Age society and later prehistoric land use, in particular the exploitation of natural landforms such as promontories and rock shelters and changing settlement patterns.
Associative characteristics (how a site or place relates to people, events, and/or historic and social movements)
We are unaware of any associative characteristics.