5.7.2 Upland and Lowland Relationships

Priority 1: There is ongoing debate regarding the extent to which an upland and lowland divide influenced Iron Age population, economy and settlement forms, with some monument types either only found exclusively, or heavily biased, to one environment. The distribution of souterrains, for example, is almost entirely lowland, with only a few exceptions known in upper Strathtay and Strathearn, and can be seen as reflecting an emphasis on arable production.

Priority 2: In addition to the upland and lowland influence on settlement forms, debate continues around the nature of settlement in the uplands east and west of the River Tay, with monumental forms, such as forts, duns and monumental roundhouses not known east of the river.

Priority 3: The extensive lowland cropmark record for various roundhouse forms, and excellent preservation of various hut circle types in the uplands, offers significant potential to inform how the upland and lowland divide influenced house forms. The extent to which an upland and lowland divide influenced house forms remains unclear and debated. A programme of targeted excavation could test and refine thinking.

Priority 4: The strategic and physical relationship between the Roman forts situated along the Highland Boundary Fault line and lowland installations remains unclear. This priority encompasses issues surrounding site contemporaneity and phasing through to connectivity, communication and supply, whether that be via land or river.

Priority 5: The relationship between upland Iron Age settlement and the siting of Roman military installations merits further investigation, especially with regards to the positioning of Roman forts. Several have been long recognised to be at upland/lowland interfaces but they are not currently known within upland areas such as beyond the Highland Boundary Fault line, whether this represents reality or the limit of evidence is a valuable line of enquiry.

Research Questions

PKARF Qu 5.7: What can the distribution of known souterrains tell us about the relative balance of arable and pastoral farming in the uplands and lowlands, and is this reflected in house and settlement forms?

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01/06/2022
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01/06/2025
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PKARF Qu 5.8: What does the occurrence of monumental roundhouses, and the relative scarcity of larger forts, in the uplands tell us about population size and the scale of organisation in comparison with the lowlands?

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01/06/2022
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01/06/2025
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PKARF Qu 5.9: Is the apparent contrast between monument forms and settlement types east and west of the Tay real, and if so what does it tell us about social organisation and the role of the Rriver Tay?

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01/06/2022
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01/06/2025
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PKARF Qu 5.10: Can we identify development in local or regional round house forms through time and/or geographically?

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01/06/2025
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PKARF Qu 5.11: Why are upland crannogs almost exclusively to the west of the River Tay?

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With one exception, in the uplands crannogs are also known almost exclusively to the west of the River Tay. Does this simply reflect the relative occurrence of suitable open water – or were there other open water bodies that have since been reclaimed?
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PKARF Qu 5.12: What is the strategic relationship between the Roman Highland line forts and the lowland military sites?

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01/06/2025
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PKARF Qu 5.13: What was the physical relationship between the Roman Highland line forts and the lowland military sites in terms of interconnectivity and lines of communication?

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01/06/2022
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01/06/2025
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PKARF Qu 5.14: To what extent was the siting of Roman military installations been influenced by pre-existing Iron Age population centres, especially at interfaces between upland and lowland?

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Status:
Active
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Date accepted:
01/06/2022
Date of next review:
01/06/2025
Linked Strategy(s):
Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework
Categories: