The Picts! - an Overview of Scotland's Ancient Ancestor Tribe

Though used generally by the Romans to refer to any peoples north of Hadrian's Wall, “Picts” specifically describes the Celtic people dwelling in what is now northern and eastern Scotland. Originally a disorganized group of tribes, the Picts united into a confederation in the face of Roman expansion. Little is known about this great Celtic people. The name we know them by translates to “The painted people” and is not what they called themselves.

The Picts would fight non-stop against Roman rule and go on to help form the nation that would be called Scotland. Called savages and brutes by their would-be conquerors, the Picts were actually far more complex.
Unfortunately, the Picts did not keep extensive written records of their history. We have to rely on outside historians and storytellers to piece together an idea of who they were and how they lived.

We do know that they had their own language - a unique dialect of the Celtic language group used across Britain. The Picts were also accomplished artists. Most of what we know about their material culture comes from silver jewelry artifacts and carved standing stones and crosses across Scotland.

As with most episodes in history, there are multiple sides to the story of the Picts. Known as accomplished warriors, the Picts were much more - a complex people with a rich unique culture.

*** To learn more about the Picts, try one of these books:

The Picts: A History by Tim Clarkson

In Search of the Picts: A Celtic Dark Age Nation by Elizabeth Sutherland

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Started in 2003, USA Kilts is a team of kilt makers and artisans located in Spring City PA. In 2017, we made it our mission to build community and bring kilts and Celtic culture to the forefront with our YT show: Kilts & Culture.

[here_we_go_again]

Hadrian's Wall = Proof that good fences make good neighbors! When the Picts could no longer free-range raid upon Roman
Britain; they decided that they would rather trade. Thx for the mini history lesson . I like your channel. 😊

[LaxinPhilly]

I really appreciate you didn't make the mistake of mentioning that the Picts died out. Rather, the data suggests that how they were referenced by outside people changed dramatically at the same time the Pictish culture was changing due to the outside influence of constant invaders.

[benmacdui]

Nice video. I come from a town called Monifieth, an area steeped in Pictish history.

[patrickodonnell]

Always wondered about this group and who they were. This video is a great primer on the subject. Also, the reference to various dates in history is very helpful. Thank you for another interesting talk.

[fearthekilt]

Great job. I enjoyed your take on a very under appreciated history and culture. Thanks for your time.

[btjhioi]

That was very well done . It has taken years to learn what you described in 8 minutes

[halimakargwr]

Thank you for your informative video of the Picts. We would like to know more about this.

[molecatcher]

I am Scottish and have been interested in the Picts for many years. Your video is one of the best short videos about the Picts that I have seen. However, I think that too much is made about the "wildness" of the Picts. We know (often from documented personal names) that the Pictish nobility intermarried with the nobility of their neighbouring kingdoms, i.e. the Scots, the Britons and the Angles. It was also common for nobility to spend time as exiles in the courts of neighbouring kingdoms when it was not safe for them to be in their homeland because of dynastic feuding there. They would often return to their homelands bringing foreign influences back with them. Also, recent archeological finds have shown that there was extensive trade networks between the Picts and their neighbours, and even with far distant lands. Consequently there was a large amount of cultural, and material exchange between all of the kingdoms in northern Britain. As such the Picts would have most likely had the same level of civilisation as all of the other peoples of their time and would not be the wild "savages" as claimed by some.

[randalbuhler]

Scotland forever, Semper Fidelis, Oorah Carry On and Beyond ‼️‼️‼️‼️💥💥💥💯💯💯‼️‼️

[TheNynrahGhostJo]

King Henry the eighth’s dissolution of the monasteries is Probably the biggest reason we don’t know much about the Picts as those monasteries acted as libraries and hospitals of the time and King Henry had any codexes with gold, silver and gems on their covers that were considered non essential burned.

[stonemonkey]

0:10 Savage people north of the wall... who else here says the Wildlings should have been Scottish?

[ernestooak]

They made a video game about them, called Hell Blade: Senua's Sacrifice, you should do review on how accurate they were.

[abrahamdozer]

I used the Pictish Beast motif shown at 7:37 on the face of a home made sporran. I wondered as I rendered it if this was an elephant ... not an eyewitness illustration of an elephant but perhaps a drawing of a description of an elephant handed down over generations. Where would the Picts have encountered elephants? Perhaps during Septimius Severus's ill fated shock and-awe invasion of Caledonia with his 40, 000 man army. Did they have war elephants? Could be....

[harrymontgomery]

Scottish History Tours give a better breakdown of this topic.

[perryruch]

The Aglo/Scottish border is most certainly not defined by Hadrian’s wall. The Roman built system of fortifications that marked the limit of the Roman Empire exists entirely within the borders of England proper.

[edwinbooth]

The beastie carved into the stone may be none other than the Loch Ness Monster. Just a thought.

[tecumsehcristero]

How could the Picts be "gaulisized" if they already were Celts?
The Gauls and the Celts were and are the same people. Maybe the Picts weren't Celts

[whiskeyvictor]

I've long wondered what that motif was supposed to depict (pun intended).

[sanderson]

You look an absolute spangel in that victorian get up min lol. Fortriu was not the largest pictish settlement it was Tap o noth right beside Mons Grampus battle we call it bennachie learn more min.

[thebristolianmackem]

Abernathy is my 2nd highest clanship they were picts