History of Scotland - Prehistoric Beginnings
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The Ice Age disposed of most of the evidence of any previous occupancy in Scotland. It was the Stone Age settlers around 7000 years ago, were the first to leave clues to their existence. Burial sites and rubbish heaps, known in Scotland as middens, have provided archaeologists with difficult questions to answer. The people came from Asia and Europe, via England and Ireland, braving it in dug-out canoes and settled for sufficient time to leave some evidence of their culture and way of life, before disappearing. They hunted and ate deer, wild boar, fish and crustaceans. Some only stayed a few days, living in caves. |
In due course, farmers from the Europe introduced agriculture. This meant the inhabitants settled for longer and burnt forests to enrich the land with potash.
After the hunters and farmers came the Beaker People. They were skilful engineers and built stone circles and monoliths. There is still evidence in the north of their brochs which were massive stone towers built beside the coast.
Around 1000 BC, metal was introduced and with it, swords and shields could be made. As Scotland was on the trade route between Ireland and Scandinavia, the natives were able to barter food and hides in return for bronze and copper. Not surprisingly, the Celts arrived. Renowned as a sturdy, fair-haired race, who were quick to attack in order seize land. The locals built forts, when fighting became a part of life.
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