Ancient People of Scotland - The Picts

This week we will leave the stones and monuments of ancient Scotland and explore what is known about the first people who lived in the area now called Scotland. It is strongly believed that the first residents were the Picts, the Celts, and the Scots. This site gives a good overview of the various groups, which made up Scotland's first population.

The Picts are believed to be the first people to arrive in northern Scotland from the continent about 1000 BC. The Picts dominated most of eastern and northeastern Scotland from Caithness to Fife for nearly 2,000 years. Very little is known about them since their language was completely lost. The popular belief is their name came from the Romans. The Latin Picti, "painted," may refer to their custom of body painting or possibly tattooing. Even their name is debated and another perspective can be found related to their name at The Cruithne. One thing we do know is the Romans could not conquer them and feared them so much they built Hadrian's Wall in 120 AD, and later built Antonine's Wall (142 AD) between the Forth and Clyde to keep them out of their territory. Part of both walls still stands today. This site tells more about the Picts and the Romans.

What we do know today is they left Scotland with many beautiful stone reminders that they did in deed exist. The best site, which gives us pictures of the surviving monuments and more information on the Picts, is The Dark Isle.

Exploration still goes on today and new sites are being found about the Picts, like the one the University of York is uncovering.

The best overall site I found which told the most about the picts is Pictish Nation.

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