Scotland - History - Brochs - Crannogs - Hillforts - P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7 - First and Second Level classroom and home learning for Curriculum for Excellence with BBC Bitesize Scotland

Before castles were built in Scotland, people built different types of shelters to keep warm and dry. Some shelters were also built to keep people or their things safe from attack.

In this article you can find out:

What kinds of buildings existed in Scotland before castles
What a fortification is
Examples of early fortifications in Scotland

This resource is suitable for Castles topics for P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 and P7 (First and Second Level Curriculum for Excellence).

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Find out what types of buildings existed in Scotland before castles were built.

Early fortifications

We call these early buildings fortifications. A is a building, wall or fence used to keep people and places safe from attack.

Look through the slideshow to see different types of fortifications from across Scotland.

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Image caption,
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a circular house with a thatched roof and walls made from local material.
Image caption,
Longhouse
A longhouse is a long narrow house often built by Vikings.
Image caption,
Crannog
A crannog is a building on stilts in water, usually a loch.
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Broch
A broch is a round stone tower usually built in the north of Scotland.
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Hillfort
A hillfort is a fort built on top of a hill to make it harder for attackers to get to.

Evidence of early fortifications in Scotland

Even though these are very old you can still see evidence or where they were and what they looked like today.

Look through the slideshow. Try comparing the ruins you can see now with what they might have been like hundreds or thousands of years ago.

Early fortifications in Scotland

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Image caption,
Roundhouse at Skara Brae
Some ancient roundhouses have been found in the ground at Skara Brae, Orkney. They are about 5000 years old but you can still see some of the furniture and where they kept a fire burning. (BigTom / Alamy Stock Photo)
Image caption,
Scottish Crannog Centre
The Scottish Crannog Centre in Perthshire has recreated a real crannog roundhouse. It shows what life was like on a loch 2500 years ago. (John Davidson Photos / Alamy Stock Photo)
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Dun Carloway
Bits and pieces of many Scottish brochs can still be seen today - like Dun Carloway on the Isle of Lewis. It is 9 meters tall and, although we can't be sure, it was probably built around 2200 years ago. Wow! (ARV / Alamy Stock Photo)
Image caption,
Ardoch Roman Fort
The defensive earthworks at Ardoch Fort in Perthshire can still be seen today. You can imagine how hard it would have been for enemies to attack with all those mounds and ditches. (David Robertson / Alamy Stock Photo)
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Broch of Gurness
Ruins of the Broch of Gurness and a whole Iron Age village can still be seen in Orkney. People have found bits of Norse longhouses around the broch. (Image Professionals GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo)

Discovering Skara Brae with Stenness Community School

Join pupils from Stenness Community School in Orkney to learn all about the fascinating history of Skara Brae.

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Made in collaboration with Historic Environment Scotland.

Test your knowledge

Quiz

Draw an early fortification.

Choose an early to draw a picture of:

roundhouse
longhouse
crannog
broch
hillfort

Research the building you have chosen. Find out about its features and try to include them in your drawing.

Some questions to think about:

What shape is it? Was it round or long and narrow?
What materials did people use to build it? Did they use stone or wood?
Where was it usually built? Was it built up high or near water?

Explore more

Life in Scotland before castles

Before castles were built, different communities of people built their own shelters and fortifications in Scotland. For examples, Vikings built longhouses and Romans built hillforts.