Gallery: Iron Age pottery from underwater investigations
Pottery from the Scottish Iron Age is a rarity. During this period in Scotland, vessels were typically made from wood, hand carved or 'stave built' from sections. However, there are a few areas in Scotland, most notably the Western Isles, where the opposite is true. Due to the lack of timber resources in the Hebrides, ceramics were really the main option for domestic containers and storage vessels. Hebridean pottery also has a long tradition of incorporating decorated motifs on the outside of vessels - this style has roots going back to the earliest Neolithic pottery. While the presence of Roman invaders in the south of Britain provided strong influences on the indigenous Iron Age communities located there, the Romans never conquered the far north of Britain and similar traditions continued on for centuries - largely undisturbed by events taking place in southern Britain - hence the Scottish Iron Age extends to approximately 500AD rather than 43AD as it does for much of England.