Buildings

Dundurn Fort		Craig Phadrig

As might be expected of a people living in unsettled times, the Picts valued strongholds. They took advantage of natural features such as steep, rocky hilltops and coastal promontories and improved their natural defences by adding enclosing ditches, palisades and ramparts. The outcrop fort at Dundurn has three such phases of fortification, all built between 500 and 800. There are also several examples of Picts reoccupying earlier Iron-Age forts (for example the vitrified fort at Craig Phadrig).

Aerial view of the medieval castle at Dunnottar –  possibly a Pictish fort site		Burghead Pictish promontory fort.

Though no Pictish use has been confirmed, the site at Dunnottar combines many elements of defence. It is protected by the sea on three sides and accessible only by a narrow strip of rock from the land. It also benefits from sandy beaches below, on which to land ships and supplies.

We do know that the coastal promontory at Burghead near Elgin was an important Pictish fort – almost certainly the main stronghold of the northern Picts. Aside from the natural defences provided by its topography, it was protected by three mighty ramparts and ditches to the landward side, with a central citadel and outer annexe enclosed by high walls.

Wag of Forse		Pitcarmick

The range of Pictish settlements that have been discovered is quite broad, dependent on location and the resources available for building. On the whole, the southern Picts built with more perishable materials, such as timber and turf, and their settlements are no longer visible other than in the higher glens. Excavations at Pitcarmick in Perthshire revealed very long, broad, round-ended turf buildings. They are larger than the more recent blackhouses of the Outer Hebrides, but similar, in that one end was for cattle, the other for family living.

In the far north, buildings were constructed in stone, enabling various shapes, from wide sub-rectangular forms to figures-of-eight or even more complex-roomed dwellings. Sometimes these buildings are clustered around the ruins of Iron-Age brochs (the Broch of Gurness is a good example). Domestic buildings are to be expected within and around the protective shelter of forts elsewhere, such as Craig Phadrig, Burghead or Dundurn. However, little evidence has survived above ground.

The Pictish house at Gurness, Orkney.

The decorative arch found at Forteviot		Aerial view of Forteviot

There are historical references to Pictish palaces, but the only location identified with any certainty is Forteviot in Strathearn, which has been the focus of a detailed survey since 2007. An almost complete carved stone arch found there earlier suggests that an impressive stone church was part of the scheme, although the precise location of this and the palace are still unknown.

Hilltop forts may have become unnecessary or inconvenient. Increasingly centralised power structures were confident of their strength and focused their wealth in large, non-defensive locations. Forteviot stood on important trade routes, surrounded by rich agricultural land.


Marriage and family
Marriage was a recognised and valued relationship in Pictish society. One explanation of the symbols on stones is that they represent powerful Pictish families, almost like coats of arms, and combinations of symbols may indicate unions or lineages.

It used to be believed that Pictish royal succession passed via the female line, but this theory has been debunked. It is true that two Pictish kings (both named Der-Ilei) came to the title via their mothers. However, in most cases kings were succeeded by sons, brothers or nephews.

Intermarriage with neighbouring kingdoms was an important diplomatic tool.


Diet, farming and hunting

Tarbat Calf Stone		There are depictions in stone of domestic animals, and excavations have confirmed the Picts as farmers of sheep, pigs and cattle, for food and as a source of hide, bone and horn. They grew crops which included barley and oats. We also know that they planted and managed woodland, and they would have had an understanding of the nutritional and medicinal properties of wild plants and their fruits. Domesticated meat was certainly supplemented by hunting wild animals. There are splendid images on Pictish stones of salmon, of riding down deer with dogs and of hunting boar on foot with a crossbow. Hunting was a sport for nobility, but game was probably an important part of everyone’s diet.

Hunting scene from the Hilton of Cadboll stone, on display in the Museum of Scotland.		Hooded hunter with crossbow from the Drosten Stone, St Vigeans.

Warmaking and defence
The Pictish nation emerged from a loose confederation of warlike groups uniting in their search for plunder, ransom and probably also slaves. As their society developed, their fighting prowess became additionally a tool of state, a means of gaining land and influence and preserving borders.

Warfare is represented on two important Pictish cross-slabs – the churchyard stone at Aberlemno in Angus, and Sueno’s Stone outside Forres, Moray. In these cases, it seems success in battle was a matter for commemoration in stone. Individual armed horsemen and footsoldiers also appear on other stones. These images allow us to gain an impression of Pictish armies and weaponry. They fought with spears and lances as well as broad, round-tipped swords and axes. Wolf hounds were used as dogs of war.

A battle scene depicted on the churchyard stone at Aberlemno.		Detail from St Orland's Stone, Angus, showing men in a boat.

The Picts were accomplished seafarers but rarely depicted ships on their sculptures. The only surviving example is on St Orland’s (Cossans) stone in Angus. This is probably a timber longboat with oars, but we know that the Picts lost a battle fleet of 150 vessels in a single stormy night in 729.