Archaeologists battle the tide to save Orkney’s ancient secrets
Archaeologists on the remote Orkney island of Rousay are racing against time and tide to save a monumental Iron Age roundhouse from being lost to the sea.
The excavation at Swandro, a coastal site already half-destroyed by erosion, has revealed a complex structure with a history stretching back over 1,000 years, from the Early Iron Age to the Viking Age.
The building, once thought to be a broch, a type of Iron Age drystone tower, is now understood to be a unique architectural hybrid. Its outer walls were added centuries after its original construction, giving it the appearance of a broch without the typical features.
Dr Stephen Dockrill, co-director of the excavation and senior lecturer at the University of Bradford, said: “This year, we finally cracked the puzzle.
“The outer wall is a later addition, built over midden layers dating to around 800-500 BCE. That means this building was in use for centuries, until it was carefully dismantled, likely by Viking settlers who reused its stones for their own longhouse nearby.”
Iron Age origins
The site is not only archaeologically rich, it is also a global case study in climate-threatened heritage. The Swandro team has documented how daily tidal action, not just winter storms, is actively destroying the site.
Dr Julie Bond, co-director and Associate Professor of Archaeology at the University of Bradford, said: “The sea is literally sucking the ground out from under us.
“It’s a stark reminder of what coastal heritage sites around the world are facing.”
Despite the challenges, the team made a striking find this season, a nearly complete Iron Age pot, decorated with a zigzag pattern, buried at the foot of a wall inside the roundhouse. It offers a rare glimpse into the lives of its ancient inhabitants.
Tidal threat
The excavation is supported by the Swandro-Orkney Coastal Archaeology Trust, Orkney Islands Council, Historic Environment Scotland, and the University of Bradford, along with individual donors. Daily updates and more information can be found at the Swandro website
This project exemplifies the University of Bradford’s strategic priority to grow its reputation for research and knowledge mobilisation. By leading internationally significant archaeological work and addressing climate-threatened heritage, the University demonstrates its commitment to global impact, innovation, and sustainable development, core pillars of its 2025–2035 strategy.
Archaeologists on Orkney’s Rousay island are urgently excavating a unique Iron Age roundhouse at Swandro before it’s lost to coastal erosion. The structure, used for over 1,000 years, reveals a rare architectural evolution from Iron Age to Viking times.
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Archaeological work in Swandro, is one of the ways the University of Bradford is using technology, combined with our expertise, to help shape the future of archaeology and heritage.
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A decorated Iron Age pot was among this season’s finds. The site, co-led by University of Bradford researchers, highlights the global threat to coastal heritage from climate change.