Ежелгі темір дәуірінің сақталған ең биік мұнарасы

Tallest preserved example of an Iron Age broch or round tower

Broch of Mousa (or Mousa Broch) is a preserved Iron Age broch or round tower. It is on the island of Mousa in Shetland, Scotland. It is the tallest broch still standing and amongst the best preserved prehistoric buildings in Europe. It is thought to have been constructed c. 300 BC, and is one of more than 500 brochs built in Scotland. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument.

The broch is located on the western shore of the island of Mousa (, [59.99523, 1.18191]). It is accessible by boat from Sandwick, Shetland, 14 mile (23 km) south of Lerwick. It stands on the flat rock surface of a low promontory near the shore overlooking Mousa Sound. It is the tallest broch still standing and amongst the best preserved prehistoric buildings in Europe.

Mousa Broch has one of the smallest overall diameters of any broch, as well as one of the thickest wall bases and smallest interiors; this massive construction (as well as its remote location) is likely to be the main explanation for its excellent state of preservation. It stands high and is accessible via a single entrance at ground level. The Orkneyinga Saga gives an account of a siege of the broch by Earl Harald Maddadsson in 1153 following the abduction of his mother, who was held inside the broch. The geologist and antiquarian Samuel Hibbert visited it in 1818 and provided a detailed account of the site.

Mousa Broch is well known among birders for its breeding European storm petrels, which are best seen after dark on partly or on completely overcast summer nights. The island holds around 6,800 breeding pairs in total, representing about 8% of the British population and about 2.6% of the world population. Some of these birds nest in burrows within the broch itself.