Scotland in Pagan Times; The Iron Age

The volume presents a series of Rhind Lectures that unpack the archaeology of Scotland’s Iron Age pagan world. By weaving together burial customs, weaponry, and ornamental ironwork, the author reveals how everyday life and belief were expressed in stone, earth and bronze. Detailed illustrations of brochs, grave‑goods and hoard finds bring the material culture to vivid life, while the narrative stays firmly rooted in the evidence uncovered across the Highlands, islands and coastal lowlands.

Building on his work at the National Museum of Antiquities, the speaker guides listeners through the distinctive regional patterns of northern burials, from urned interments in Orkney to the Viking‑type graves that dot Islay and Shetland. He examines the design of brooches, shields and silver ornaments, contrasting them with Celtic styles to show how pagan traditions lingered even as Christianity began to spread. The result is a clear, engaging portrait of a dynamic, culturally diverse Scotland before the medieval transformation.