6.10.7 Building Traditions

Priority 1:

The nature of the transition of form from roundhouses to elongated buildings remains unclear. It may have been the result of external influences, an emergence from the existing roundhouse tradition, or a combination of these factors. The rounded ends of Pitcarmick-type buildings may be a result of their largely turf construction, however.

Priority 2:

A number of monumental roundhouses, found in uplands west of the River Tay (Strachan 2013), show evidence of early medieval activity. How best can we understand the nature of this activity, for example, is it possible to identify settlement nearby?

Priority 3:

There are a number of more irregular duns, such as Dun Gael, above Fortingall (ID) in the uplands west of the Tay. As yet undated, they may prove to be early medieval, or perhaps of Iron Age construction with similar reuse as at the monumental roundhouses.

 Priority 4:

What was the origin of the square barrows and cemeteries that were introduced in the period?

Priority 5:

How best do we identify the phasing of crannog site? Are they best approached as multi-period phenomena?

Research Questions