Foundations of Scotland

[mediaevalist]

Something I picked up from The Herald by way of SCA Today:

Apparently, the Picts were not so barbaric after all.

Still seen by many as merely pint-sized, painted warriors, our forbears were often sophisticated people who were instrumental in the foundation of Scotland as a country - and in the creation of the national flag.

They were also talented craftspeople who used stones such as the Hilton of Cadboll to demonstrate their values and creeds.

Yesterday the National Museums of Scotland, where the ancient stone is displayed, launched a new bid to shed light on what has become known as the Dark Ages to try to give these ancient peoples, such as the Picts, the Gaels and Norse their rightful place in Scottish history.

The "Dark Ages" are seen as primitive enough, and Celts have always been the most barbarous of barbarians. Yet another urban legend rightly flushed.