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.