Howie Firth spoke on ‘The Iron Men of Dunbeath’ – a search for the nature of the broch builders and their times. He described the challenges of developing iron technology, its social and economic consequences, and the way in which various disciplines can be brought together to provide clues to the building of the massive round broch towers around the north and west of Scotland, including the group along the Dunbeath Water. The talk, hosted by Dunbeath Preservation Trust, took place in Dunbeath Heritage Centre and attracted 25 people, several of whom came from up to 30 miles away, and generated much lively discussion, on topics such as the links between brochs and roundhouses.