tigh

close
more_vert
tiompan T
tiompan Sep 7, 2009 16:19:03
Replying to mascot

mascot wrote:
My understanding was that most of the highland area of Scotland was very habitable in the first few thousand years after the last Glacial period - I just happened to be born into the cold wet period in Helensburgh's history! :-)

Not suggesting any of these features go back that far of course, but there would probably have been the right resources and climate for quite high levels of population at one time or other, all be it in a very different setting - I've seen sourcing quoting wide forestation of Rannoch Moor with pine and alder round about 6,000/7,000 BP?

Mac

The afforestation of Scotland has shown to be less extensive than was previously thought although nevertheless much was covered . Rannoch moor is an unlikely place to settle when you have Appin not too far away and Rannoch itself which at least had the loch and some decent sheltered ground . Subsequent peat would has made it difficult for discoveries in more remote areas .The west highlands have provided settelment from the Mesolithic onwards but but why live in a glen that has poor soil and never sees the sun except for a couple of hours in winter when you could live by the coast or a strath that provides grazing and posibilities for farming .
There were some lithic scatters found in the Lairig Ghru but definitely no settlement .

M mascot
mascot Sep 7, 2009 17:29:48
Replying to tiompan

Agree re peat making possible discoveries very unlikely.

Also agree re coastal plains etc being first places to settle etc.

It's also clear that the slope levels would mitigate against woodland in a lot of the highlands.

That being said, I don't think Rannoch would have been that bad a place in better climes, it's a broad area so would not suffer from the lack of sun in deep valley areas.

Even recently, at least before the clearances, a lot of inland Scotland was more populated than at present where most locals live where their recent ancestors were relocated to make way for sheep.

I've no doubt that the better areas you list were populated first and had the best farmland/grazing/wildlife but I think we get a poor view of the potential for use in pre-history when we look at the current landscape in a lot of the highlands?

Mac