architecture scotland prehistoric era architecture scotland prehistoric era includes human building modern borders scotland arrival romans britain century bce settlers began build wood scotland years ago permanent houses stone constructed years ago settlements like large numbers tombs era particularly west north south east linked timber monuments remnants remain related structures include bank monuments timber halls bronze age fewer new buildings evidence built artificial islands iron age evidence substantial stone atlantic include towers smaller evidence scotland located clyde forth line stone age oldest house evidence britain oval structure wooden posts found near forth dating period bce earliest stone structures probably found dated bce development agriculture groups settlers began building stone houses scottish soil era years ago villages years later burial ritual sites particularly common preserved northern western isles lack trees led structures built local stone stone building oldest surviving houses north west europe making use locally gathered rubble dry stone construction probably occupied years bce dates era occupied bce europe complete large numbers tombs period different types identified roughly grouped passage graves gallery graves stone relatively simple box like graves usually stone covered large stone slab near mainland dated bce dated approximately bce passage graves construction built large stones weigh tons gallery graves rectangular gallery like spaces entrance end width gallery lined covered earth impressive surviving monuments period sets standing stones scotland mainland date bce stones tallest feet height contrast highlands islands stone extensively south east visible architectural mainly earliest probably dating beginning fourth millennium bce today monuments consist massive earth stone commonly plan east widely distributed particularly angus related structures include bank monuments timber halls forms enclosure bank parallel sided usually flanked ditches originally believed roman origin monuments consist long parallel lengths banks earth external ditches open avenue forms usually associated burial chambers examples bank scotland include long mound hybrid bank monument stretches miles usually sub rectangular banks external ditches raised platforms stone wood thought exposure corpses prior burial interpretation disputed remains period found long key examples include closely related sites timber halls probably unique scotland massive buildings oak subsequently burnt debate role buildings seen variously regular farming families related series monumental constructions hall feet long feet wide roof feet high making large accommodate people bronze age bronze working developed bce decline building large new structures reduction total area cultivation suggests fall population early middle bronze age evidence cellular round houses stone oval houses thick stone walls partly subterranean earliest period technique provided structural stability evidence occupation partially entirely built artificial islands usually lakes rivers waters constructed layers rubble edges vertical piles surfaced logs oak creation monuments continued period approximately scotland named near distinct forms circular rubble enclosure known ring passage graves long entrance usually complex astronomical europe hill forts introduced period including occupation near scottish borders bce accommodated houses fortified acre enclosure places west summit stone wall rubble core iron age early iron age seventh century bce cellular houses begin replaced northern isles simple atlantic substantial circular buildings construction important examples complex atlantic began built howe massive constructions date era circular towers probably dating bce hollow walled structures unique scotland ruins survive metres ground level extant examples towers walls exceed feet height sites scotland best preserved include south near despite extensive research purpose nature societies created matter debate archaeologists 1960s distinguished smaller structures similar construction usually called heaviest evidence occupation era continue middle ages period saw beginnings characteristic outer wall circle stone piers bearing resemblance wheel flourish era roman occupation evidence iron age scotland located clyde forth line majority circular single enclosure relatively small covering acres larger appear largely abandoned roman period departure
Architecture of Scotland in the Prehistoric era