A process of elimination? Reviewing the fragmented settlement record of eastern Pictland and its implications for future research

Abstract

The evidence for early medieval settlement across Scotland’s eastern mainland is varied and whilst we continue to gain sites through new research and developer-led projects, our interpretation of the record is not advancing at an equal rate. Structural remains and robust floor deposits have proven particularly elusive, and our understanding of the role of different settlements and the relationship between sites remains limited. Preservation has played a major part in impeding interpretations and though contributing factors are routinely identified at the site-level, efforts to assess their prevalence or wider impact on the settlement record have been virtually non-existent. Through a review of excavation literature that complements the results published in Reid and Milek (2021), this paper collates evidence for the major factors impacting the identification of early medieval settlement remains and considers how such factors have influenced our interpretation of the archaeological record to date. The study then looks at the future of these sites in the wake of climate change and considers what techniques and strategies we may use to try and overcome the current theoretical and methodological hurdles.