Celts and Romans at Birnie and beyond

Birnie was an important settlement for over a thousand years, during the late Bronze Age and Iron Age (around 1000 BC – 200 AD). Iron Age people are often called Celts because they spoke a Celtic language. Things changed a lot over this long time – the settlement grew and declined, different houses were built, and iron became the vital metal for tools and weapons.

Left: Reconstruction of a typical Iron Age house.

Iron Age people were farmers, living off the land – but as time went on some groups became richer and more powerful. They built bigger and more impressive houses, learned rare skills like bronze-casting and glass-working – and were able to acquire unusual objects like amber and gold. The people at Birnie grew rich and strong.

Left: Typical Celtic jewelry from north-east Scotland.

The world outside was changing too. Far from Birnie, a small Italian city grew more and more powerful. Its armies were stronger, better-equipped and better trained than other armies. They conquered more and more land. Eventually these armies of Rome came to Scotland – and came to know the people at Birnie.