Picts, Gaels and Scots

Early historic Scotland – from the 5th to the 10th century ad – was home to a variety of diverse peoples and cultures, all competing for land and supremacy. Yet by the 11th century it had become a single, unified kingdom. Leading author and archaeologist Dr Sally M. Foster explains the extraordinary story of the Picts and the Gaels, and how they united to forge the origins of the Scotland we know today.

This fully revised and updated edition draws on the latest archaeological discoveries and cutting-edge research, providing a comprehensive, up-to-date and fascinating insight into the rich tapestry of Scottish ancestry, history and culture. Early historic Scotland is brought vividly to life with lavish illustrations and new colour photography, featuring sculptures, sites and artefacts alongside detailed reconstructions, drawings and maps. Every aspect of this remarkable era is covered, including the origins of the Picts and at Dál Riata (Gaels); Pictish symbols and other early historic sculptures, such as the Dupplin Cross; the art of war and the role of kingship in tribal society; settlement, agriculture, industry and trade; religious beliefs and the impact of Christianity; and how the Picts and Gaels became Scots.

Dr Sally M. Foster is Head of Scheduling for Historic Scotland. A graduate of University College London and Glasgow University, she has worked for Historic Scotland for 16 years. She was formerly an Investigator with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and is Honorary Editor of Medieval Archaeology. She has edited, contributed and written a number of recent publications, which include Able Minds and Practised Hands. Scotland's Early Medieval Sculpture in the 21st Century, The St Andrews Sarcophagus: A Pictish Masterpiece and its International Connections, Place, Space and Odyssey: Exploring the Future of Early Medieval Sculpture, and Maeshowe and the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.