prehistoric art scotland prehistoric art scotland visual art created found modern borders scotland departure romans southern central britain early fifth century usually seen beginning early historic medieval era clear definition prehistoric art scholars objects involve creativity lack context allow understood earliest examples portable art scotland highly decorated carved stone balls period share patterns irish scottish stone carvings items period include elaborate carved links including earliest known depiction human face scotland bronze age examples carvings including representations objects cup ring marks representations axe boat boat probably oldest dimensional representations real objects survive scotland elaborate carved stone battle axes symbolic representations power surviving includes gold jet elaborate weaponry leaf swords ceremonial shields sheet bronze iron age extensive examples patterned objects gold work evidence wider culture includes horns demonstrate common styles found scotland ireland continental impressive items period head fragment century rome carried series roman artifacts like roman influence material culture seen local stone carvings definitions meanings ability study prehistoric art dependent surviving artifacts art created sand bark hides normally endured materials rock stone bone ivory lesser extent wood later pottery metal likely extant artifacts defined works art contested scholars argued earliest non rock mark beginnings human art suggests relative rarity works means seen integral early human society evidence artistic culture pointed dangers applying modern values art past societies cultures argues works approached set post renaissance aesthetic values distinguish artists art artifact categories universal inappropriate understanding prehistoric society pointed difficulties modern distinction drawn form decoration emphasis studies prehistoric art tend placed decoration objects ignores importance form found objects weapons meanings suggested advent nature prehistoric art helped develop human solidarity early stages open air rock art acted route animal cave art ritual role rites initiation vision quests ceremonies portable objects acted systems anthropomorphic figures role religious rituals artifacts understood context lost poorly understood stone age scotland occupied hunter bce highly mobile boat people making tools bone stone farming brought permanent settlements like stone house dating bce settlers introduced tombs standing stones circles mainland dates bce similar stones found europe time surviving art period scotland probably mobile peoples period organic items probably oldest surviving portable visual art scotland carved stone balls date late era uniquely scottish phenomenon known examples modern handful examples known harris lewis found village functions suggested objects indicating prestigious powerful possessions production continued complex carved circles balls seen mirrored carving probably culture produced carvings ireland similarly carved found burial sites like found pattern diamond shaped similar found europe pottery appeared period hunters transitioned lifestyle needed use lightweight mobile containers finely decorated survives fourth bce named mainland typical elegant distinctive shallow band rim technique known stab drag second variation consists round found tombs specifically tombs type include called tomb eagles south occasionally found outside tombs scattered occurrences evolved later style associated builders class tomb began early millennium bce soon adopted britain ireland vessels highly decorated flat patterns similar carved wife shaped believed earliest representation human face found scotland discovered site village links near north coast face dots eyes heavy nose pattern body represent clothing subsequently found site bronze age began scotland bce new techniques began reach northern britain creation monuments continued probably fall population period evidence cellular round houses stone wooden partially entirely built artificial islands europe hill forts introduced period period extensive examples rock art include cup ring marks central depression carved stone surrounded rings completed common found natural rocks isolated stones scotland elaborate sets markings western scotland particularly representations axe boat boat probably oldest dimensional representations real objects survive scotland similar carved found cover stones burial elaborate carved stone battle axes found little sign use wear practical objects symbolic representations power similarly site produced unique warrior burial giant sandstone slab slab engraved spiral underside underneath grave goods copper dagger leather carved wooden bowl surviving includes personal items like gold found date bce similar found relatively large numbers ireland examples great_britain portugal jet crescent shape found sites including angus sophisticated pottery impressed designs found scotland bronze age example decorated grave food vessel dated bce found grave group bronze found site elaborate weaponry includes bronze leaf swords ceremonial shields sheet bronze scotland bce early bronze age find castle includes bronze axes pairs necklace bronze ear bosses bronze jet buttons goddess life sized female figure bce oak eyes found iron age began scotland seventh century bce point finds iron artifacts consistent containing items consistent practice evidence settlement sites iron age society scotland shared traits ireland cases continental europe included enclosed fortified settlements contained elements independent development early period relatively little larger early large compared rest britain wide variety forms styles resemble southern britain particularly geometric period scotland penetrated wider culture named archaeological site north switzerland pony cap horns impressive relatively finds decoration scotland indicate links ireland southern britain found group gold different styles dating bce bce demonstrate common styles found scotland ireland indicate southern france greek roman worlds surviving ring headed probably locally imported appear british irish type culture spiral finger rings glass long handled found britain local characteristics bronze collar large engraved necklace pin probably century decorated trumpet curves north finds massive bronze decoration like ones found sands impressive items period head fragment war trumpet probably dating century similar instruments mentioned roman sources depicted found denmark stone carving number simple stone heads scotland like found date similar found great_britain ireland difficult date later roman influence romans began military expeditions scotland building series forts occupation limited end century northern limit roman expansion line drawn romans eventually withdrew line northern england building fortification known wall coast coast undertook southern scotland moving construct new clyde built fortification known wall wall overrun abandoned soon romans withdrew line wall roman authority collapsed early fifth century associated forts left direct legacy scotland distance wall depict victories marches involved construction surviving sculptures including altar diana apollo bath house shape man head mouth head bust statue goddess found roman fort showing local celtic influence style away wall roman sculptures include marble head roman emperor general broken larger statue found late eighteenth century dates second century looted roman monument south sculpture probably imported bound prisoner found near roman base near edinburgh relief goddess found near combines elements native classical art helmet found roman fort near impressive finds roman arms armour second century british apparently decorated soldier served wall probably locally number items found sculptor cave including roman pottery rings coins ornaments
Prehistoric art in Scotland