Bronze and Iron Age Scotland
The Bronze and Iron Ages take their name from the main types of metal used by people in those times. During the Bronze Age in Scotland people discovered how to smelt metal and started to use metal tools instead of stone. In the Iron Age, which lasted until the arrival of the Romans, the discovery of iron made making weapons much easier. This may explain why some Iron Age settlements were fortified or built on artificially created islands called Crannogs.
The Bronze Age
4,000 years ago, bronze arrived in Scotland, brought by people believed to come from Spain. Bronze tools would have been stronger for fighting and chopping down trees with. Find out what archaeologists have discovered about the lives of people in these times.
Everyday life in the Iron Age
The Iron Age lasted for 800 years in Scotland. It started nearly 3,000 years ago in 750 BC. Iron Age people in Scotland were called Celts and Picts. Find out some of the things we know about their daily lives.
Iron Age Farming
Iron Age farms were run by families or small communities. With new ways of farming they had better harvests and more food. During the Iron Age, the population of Britain reached a million.
Iron Age homes and settlements
The remains of many settlements, brochs, crannogs, duns and hillforts can be seen in Scotland today. Find out what they can tell us about the Iron Age people who lived in them.