The period of British history after the withdrawal of the Romans is popularly called the 'Dark Ages' . It was a time of great instability and invasion. The tribes of Scotland - the Picts and the Celts - had to cope with a new threat from overseas - the Vikings. These resources focus on one of the great mysteries of Scottish history - the Picts - and reveal another side to the Vikings - as settlers not raiders.

Piece together the parts of a historical jigsaw puzzle to form a picture of these mysterious early inhabitants of Scotland.

Why were some Vikings buried in boats. What can archaeology tell us about what kind of people they were?

Jarlshof was a successful farm settlement in Shetland uring the 9th century... then the Vikings arrived! They brought their own cultural ways from Scandinavia and changed the farming community forever. By looking at the evidence that remains, we can discover Viking influences in buildings, tools, luxuries and even place names.
Find out more about the lives of women in this period with this short biography on the Women's History Scotland website.