The recommendations below apply specifically to the Iron Age period in the Highlands. Some research questions in the Land and Environment section 3.9 may also apply to this period.
Many research questions from the original National ScARF and other regional research frameworks are also relevant and applicable in the Highlands. These will soon be all be searchable and available all together through our our new digital platform facility.
Environment
HARF Qu 7.1: How did the worsening climate affect peat formation and settlement?
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With better dating of sites, explore the impact of the worsening climate and peat formation for settlement in the landscape.Status:
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkSettlement
HARF Qu 7.10: When were Highland cARs/brochs built, and can we determine if there was continuous or episodic occupation?
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If, as seems likely, cARs/broch building dates to 4th/3rd century BC, what changes can be attributed to this period? The work on Caithness cARS/brochs and Hatherley’s work in Easter Ross (Hatherley 2015c) and other projects elsewhere have shown the need for full excavation in order to determine construction dates, repairs and occupation dates. Digging the walls may also provide further burial evidence.Status:
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Qu 7.17: What happens to settlements at the end of the period?
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Further work is needed on the Late Iron Age and early medieval period interface.
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01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Qu 7.2: Can we identify high status sites for this period?
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Crannogs, hillforts, promontory forts and duns hold much potential, as shown by work elsewhere, and few have been excavated and dated despite the wide range of potential sites. This will require large scale excavation, combined with good dating and environmental study. Areas with clusters, such as Strathglass and Skye, might show regional preferences.Status:
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Qu 7.3: Some areas such as in Loch Oich, have multiple crannogs. Were they contemporary?
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The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Qu 7.4: Is there a recognisable pattern to crannog construction methods and resource use spatially/temporally/geographically?
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Areas to look at include: timber use vs stone use, free-standing pile dwelling vs packwerk mound, materials used (oak and alder construction vs pine and birch construction). Highland is ideal to address these questions given its wide range of geography and demonstrated variety in crannog construction techniques.Status:
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The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Qu 7.5: Are there many unrecorded crannogs/artificial islands in the Highlands?
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What does this mean for understanding crannog distribution in Scotland?Status:
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01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Qu 7.7: What is the relationship between crannogs and potentially contemporary terrestrial settlement, especially in more remote upland landscapes (e.g. Loch Beannacharain, Ross-shire, MHG7908)?
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What does this mean for understanding contemporary society, economy and possibly climate, particularly if such impressive, labour/resource intensive settlement is contemporary?Status:
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01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Qu 7.8: Are there chronological or functional differences between very upland (over 350m OD) crannogs and more lowland sites?
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The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Qu 7.9: What is the evidence for non-circular buildings in the Highlands?
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Are there any parallels to Tungadale, Skye?Status:
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkDaily Life and Diagnostic Artefacts
HARF Qu 7.11: Can we trace movements of (glass) objects made at Culbin Sands and Culduthel?
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The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Qu 7.12: Do dated contexts provide information on the introduction and types of rotary querns in the Highlands?
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This should be combined with geologic analysis of materials used.Status:
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkReligion and Ritual
HARF Qu 7.13: Can we identify trends which allow us to predict where people will be buried?
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Loch Borralie mound might repay further attention, as it appeared possibly to have further burials in the multi-period site, in an area (northwest Scotland), about which we have limited information, but where a survey has identified various possible sites in the landscape (Lelong and MacGregor 2003).Status:
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01/09/2021Date of next review:
01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkCraft and Industry
HARF Qu 7.14: What evidence is there of lithic tool production in this period?
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The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkHARF Qu 7.16: How does workshop activity in caves relate to settlement sites?
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Are the caves near other evidence of Iron Age settlement?Status:
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01/09/2024Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research FrameworkAre there research recommendations that you think are missing?
Why not add your comment below which will be flagged to ScARF (or get in touch with ScARF directly) and new questions will be considered for addition at the next revision.