Can you feel it? The wind whispers tales of ancient communities. We’re standing before a Hillfort. This isn’t just any hill. It’s a testament to Scotland’s enduring past. Hillforts like this one dot the Scottish landscape. Over 1600 of them stand within Scotland’s borders.
Around 1000 BC the first Scottish Hillforts emerged during the Late Bronze Age. But it was the Iron Age that truly saw their rise. From about 800 BC to AD 400 these Hillforts dominated the terrain. But their story doesn’t end there. They enjoyed a resurgence in the early medieval period. The latest Hillforts we know of date back to around AD 700.
What exactly is a Hillfort? It’s a settlement on a hill defended by ramparts. These ramparts are made of earth stone or wooden palisades. They create enclosures offering protection. Inside these enclosures people built their homes and workshops. Some Hillforts even had annexes for livestock.
Cast your mind back. Imagine families living here. Picture livestock grazing nearby. It’s a whole community thriving within these defenses. The rocky outcrops of Stirling Castle and Edinburgh Castle were once prehistoric forts. These locations were desirable in prehistory.
Now let’s ponder why these Hillforts were built. For a long time people believed they served a purely defensive purpose. They were thought to protect against attack. But historians now believe prehistoric society was far more complex. These Hillforts may have been social signifiers or status symbols.
Envision the imposing ramparts visible for miles. They showcased the power of the people who built them. Building these Hillforts required significant resources. It meant materials and manpower. This Hillfort might have been a central meeting point and marketplace. The evidence suggests that most Hillforts were domestic settlements.
Around Edinburgh Iron Age people built another impressive Hillfort called Castlelaw Hill Fort. It was home to a thriving Iron Age community. Castlelaw features three concentric rings of ramparts and ditches. They surround a low foothill. Within the middle ditch lies an earth house or souterrain. Its purpose remains a mystery.
Some believe it was a hiding place. Others suggest it was a ritual structure. It could simply have been a storage space. Think about the possibilities. Each theory offers a glimpse into the lives of the people who lived here. The main Hillfort occupies the summit. The site was also likely for the Votadini.
Here at Arthur’s Seat a couple of stony banks on the east side mark the remains of an Iron Age Hillfort. In Arthurian myth Arthur’s Seat is often linked to Camelot.
Before 638 Edinburgh was part of the Old North. The Northumbrians then seized Lothian. By 950 the fortress of Eden was abandoned to the Picts and Scots. It’s a complex history marked by shifting powers. This gives you a small insight into the lives and times of the people who lived in this area.
Today as you stand here remember those who came before. Remember their struggles their triumphs and their daily lives. The Hillfort stands as a silent witness to their existence. It connects us to a past that continues to shape our present.