The Iron Age begins around 800 BC, continuing to 400 AD and is characterised by technological and material change with the uptake of Iron working. Historically there has been a bias towards the north, east and Outer Hebrides within the research of Iron Age Scotland. This research again often concentrates on impressive sites like large hillforts which was a focal point for previous researchers. The Clyde Valley is unfortunately underrepresented throughout the larger narratives of the Scottish Iron Age but there is a density of settlement sites throughout the study area with hillforts, enclosures, crannogs and roundhouses are most populus in the historic environment record in the study area. Brochs are most commonly found in the North of Scotland which has been analysed with specific reference to a North Atlantic Culture (Mackie 2008) there is a broch in the Clyde Valley, Calla Broch (10707), which has not been included within in research of Brochs nor has it been excavated, highlighting the under representation of sites within the Clyde Valley.
Through commercial activities in Larkhall, East Kilbride, Hamilton and Clyde Windfarm, South Lanarkshire previously unknown Iron Age sites have been located. Known sites like Woodend Hillfort (10440), Black Hill (10294) and Castle Qua (10194) have been tested for the first time through both commercial and community projects. Lastly, reexamination of Old Kirkpatrick (7828) and Erskine (7863) Crannogs have been undertaken by academics to understand the use of maritime crannogs as domestic structures. The new research of Iron Age sites within the Clyde Valley has provided new insights into the Iron Age but more work is needed to understand dynamics between roman and indigenous populations, economies such as farming, iron working and other craft activities of shale, cannel coal and wood. More research into activities will allow us to understand seasonality and the role of individual settlements perhaps allowing insight into power dynamics and highly complex communities.