ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the concept of “house societies” suggested by Lévi- Strauss, and its applicability to the Iron Age societies of Atlantic Scotland. In particular it explores the significance of brochs, the unique stone towers that dominate the archaeology of the region. It argues that they are domestic houses occupied by families that have a pre-eminent role in these societies. These families control key resources, such as timber, stone and ancestors, and provide the mechanism for small-scale communities to compete with their neighbours for prestige and power. The archaeology provides a very good example of house society and can be used to explore the significance of this concept in archaeological debates.
