The Leckie broch, Stirlingshire: an interim report

Abstract

Summary Some of the results of the excavation of the broch at Leckie between 1970 and 1978 are briefly described. The clear stratigraphy and the many closely dateable Roman finds allow new conclusions to be drawn about the date of some Iron Age artefacts and about the origin of the southern Scottish brochs. For example it seems now that some of these brochs were built, presumably with the approval of the Roman Army, during the Flavian period (AD 80–100) and probably soon after Agricola's recall. The richness of the finds at Leckie, and the many valuable imported items, support the view that the southern broch builders were originally allies of Rome. Later, soon after the start of the Antonine period, things became different and this broch, probably with others, was destroyed – possibly by the Roman forces.