- Evidence for boats and boatbuilding may be rare across the region, but the importance of maritime movement is inferred by a range of archaeological evidence. The contemporary literature makes reference to population movement, potentially undertaken by sea (with incomers from Hiberno-Norse groups originating in Ireland) as well as by land (likely with the Pictish and Anglian/Northumbrian incursions). Maritime trade is also inferred by the presence of exotic materials originating from as far away as mainland Europe and even the Mediterranean. Gaulish ‘E’ Ware style pottery has been recovered from Whithorn and the Mote of Mark, and worked porphyry from the Mediterranean has been recovered from Whithorn and Barhobble.
- The importance of maritime commerce is also supported by the large number of Early Medieval finds occurring on sites like Luce Sands and Stevenston Sands. These locations would have provided safe anchorages for seagoing vessels. The quantity of objects occurring – and the fact that these sites appear to have been subject to repeated use throughout much of prehistory and onwards into the Medieval period – has led some to argue that they were once used as ‘beach markets.’ These are interpreted as neutral places where local communities could meet to trade with visiting seafarers.
- Some high-status secular sites which see repeated reuse throughout the period, such as the nucleated fort at Mote of Mark and the vitrified hilltop forts at Dundonald and Auldhill, may also have retained their importance because of their strategic locations. The Mote of Mark overlooks the estuary of the River Urr, Dundonald is situated close to Stevenston Sands, and Auldhill overlooks another potentially useful anchorage at modern Hunterston.
- One final element falls within the scope of maritime transport: the seagoing boats themselves. The remains of Norse ships have occasionally been found associated with Viking burials. They would have been burnt along with their deceased occupants, but they can be identified as lines of rivets marking the charred outline of the vessel beneath an earthen mound. One such burial was recorded at Kingscross, with another probable example encountered nearby at Millhill, Lamlash.
- The use of dug-out canoes continued for inland and riverine travel, and it is likely that some of the numerous logboats identified around lochs and crannog sites around the region would have been manufactured in the Early Medieval period. Accurate dating of these vessels is often difficult, however, as they tend to be crafted from long-lived tree species like oak.
- When it comes to land-based travel, it is likely that the Roman occupation of the region – though fleeting – had left an important legacy in the form of its road network. Although it had long ceased to be maintained or repaired, it would still have vastly improved ease of movement for travellers. The fact that the putative Viking burial at Carronbridge was placed close to the line of a Roman road would suggest that this infrastructure continued in use, even long after the Romans had moved away (McLeod 2014).
- Horses remained in use after the Iron Age, but there is no evidence that they were used for pulling war-chariots after the Roman occupation. Evidence drawn from across Scotland, and from Pictish carved stones in particular, indicates that horses were now used as riding animals, again potentially by elite members of society. Finds of harness mounts still occur from time to time at high-status sites in the region. In particular, a copper alloy horse harness mount with Germanic design was recovered from the Trusty’s Hill excavations of 2012 (Toolis and Bowles 2013).