1899-1900. ] The Broch of Torwoodlee. I21 
of the Norse robber kings, and clearly connected with the 
northern end of the Picts’ or Celts’ ditech—a defensive path- 
way, stretching for many a mile southwards into England. 
The Roman remains of pottery and glass found in the 
broch may raise the question of the Romans themselves 
forming an entrenchment on the spot; but it is much more 
likely that the Roman ware and other articles were acquired 
from one of the near Roman stations, either by exchange or 
otherwise. The Vespasian coin, 69 to 79 A.D., does not prove 
anything either as to date or occupation, because such would 
be available for purchase or barter for long after its true date. 
The construction of brochs in general has been ascribed to 
a period ranging from 500 to 1000 a.D., but the Torwoodlee 
broch would point to an earlier date. The Romans under 
Agricola invaded Scotland in 80 a.p., followed by Hadrian in 
(135 aD., whilst the Roman legions were withdrawn in 410 
AD. It is reasonable to suppose that the broch was then 
_ occupied. The Roman ware points to a date not later than 
the fifth century. Of course it is possible that the Romans 
_ may have occupied the site at an earlier period, and that the 
broch was constructed by the Celtze afterwards. The main 
_ evidence from the remains, however, including their resting- 
place in the inner court, would point to the broch being con- 
structed and occupied by the native population—Picts or 
Celts—at a time contemporaneous with the presence of the 
Romans in their neighbouring stronghold at Newstead. 
It may be said that in attributing the building of the well- 
constructed stonework to the handicraft of the native Celtz, 
we are ascribing to them rather more skill and enterprise 
than they are entitled to be credited with. But we must 
remember that, even before the Roman invasion, the Picts or 
Celts in Scotland were good artificers, especially in metals. 
The remains of their bronze and other metallic work exhibited 
in our National Museum prove conclusively the intelligent 
skill of the natives even before the Christian era, and would 
lead us to consider that in other branches of handiwork, as in 
stone construction, they would not be behind. The brochs 
were apparently stone towers for shelter—defensive, and not 
offensive—and the Picts or Celtze were intelligent enough to 
construct them, and were the only parties likely to use them. 
