To the Ancient Scotland Introduction...

Books

There are many good books dealing with Ancient Scotland and related subjects, but there are very many bad ones. These are a selection that I would recommend and which I personally would not be without.

You can click on the Amazon logo and be taken straight to the page where you can order the book.

People in the UK may be tempted to make use of the Ancient and Medieval History Book Club. It is worth noting that their prices are often not as good as those of the on-line booksellers. Also quite a number of people (myself included) have found their ability to deal with their own mistakes to be quite lacking. As such, I really cannot recommend the book club.

A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany Aubrey Burl A pocket-size guide book (if you have fairly large pockets) to several hundred stone circles, with map references, ratings and descriptions. Indispensible!

From Carnac to Callanish: The Prehistoric Stone Rows and Avenues of Britain, Ireland and Brittany Aubrey Burl If you're interested in megaliths in lines rather than rings then this is the book to look at.

The Prehistory of Orkney: BC4000-1000AD Colin Renfrew (Editor) A wide-ranging selection of articles about many aspects of Orkney and its fascinating archaeology. Not a light read, but lots of fascinating detail.

Prehistoric Orkney Anna Ritchie A book covering much the same period as The Prehistory of Orkney, but a much easier read. Very good.

The Archaeology of Argyll Graham Ritchie (Editor) Argyll, on the West Coast of Scotland, has a rich and varied archaeological history. This book covers periods from the Mesolithic to the coming of the Norse, calling at rock carving, Iron Age settlements and early Christianity on the way. Far from trivial coverage, but manages not to be too heavy for the non-specialist.

Rock Art and the Prehistory of Atlantic Europe: Signing the Land Richard Bradley Looking at rock carvings from four or five thousand years ago, this book covers much of Atlantic Europe and includes plenty of details specific to or related to Scottish rock carvings. Easily the best book on the subject that I have read.

Picts Anna Ritchie A splendid (and short and cheap) introduction to the life of the Picts and the carved stones in the care of Historic Scotland.

In Search of the Picts: A Celtic Dark Age Nation Elizabeth Sutherland Currently my favourite book on the Picts and Pictish stones. Lots of detail and a very easy read. And splendid photographs by Tom E. Grey.
Note: at present (8th June 2003) this seems to have a stupid price (more than $100) on Amazon. It cost me around 13 pounds new - that's less that $20 US. Be careful out there - there's always someone ready to rip you off! Many thanks to Ann for bringing this to my attention.

The Celtic World Miranda J. Green (Editor) A weighty tome giving encyclopaedic coverage of the Celts throughout Europe. An excellent reference, but probably not "holiday reading".
Scotland BC Anna Ritchie A good introduction (and short and cheap) to many of the prehistoric monuments and fortifications in the care of Historic Scotland.

Scotland's First Settlers C.R. Wickham-Jones A very good introduction to the Stone Age peoples who settled in Scotland some 9000 years ago in the Mesolithic period after the last Ice Age.

Neolithic and Bronze Age Scotland Hardback

Softback
P.J. Ashmore A very good read, and covering my favourite period of Scottish history.

Roman Scotland David J. Breeze A good introduction to the Romans at the edge of their empire.

Picts, Gaels and Scots Sally M. Foster The Picts and the Gaels (Dal Riata) ar fascinating for the artifacts that they left and the lack of historical detail. This book gives a wonderful overview of the Picts and the Gaels, and how they became unified as the Scots. Recommended.

Iron Age Britain Barry Cunliffe This book looks at Iron Age life throughout Britain and is a fascinating read. Very highly recommended.

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A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany		Aubrey Burl	A pocket-size guide book (if you have fairly large pockets) to several hundred stone circles, with map references, ratings and descriptions. Indispensible!
From Carnac to Callanish: The Prehistoric Stone Rows and Avenues of Britain, Ireland and Brittany		Aubrey Burl	If you're interested in megaliths in lines rather than rings then this is the book to look at.
The Prehistory of Orkney: BC4000-1000AD		Colin Renfrew (Editor)	A wide-ranging selection of articles about many aspects of Orkney and its fascinating archaeology. Not a light read, but lots of fascinating detail.
Prehistoric Orkney		Anna Ritchie	A book covering much the same period as The Prehistory of Orkney, but a much easier read. Very good.
The Archaeology of Argyll		Graham Ritchie (Editor)	Argyll, on the West Coast of Scotland, has a rich and varied archaeological history. This book covers periods from the Mesolithic to the coming of the Norse, calling at rock carving, Iron Age settlements and early Christianity on the way. Far from trivial coverage, but manages not to be too heavy for the non-specialist.
Rock Art and the Prehistory of Atlantic Europe: Signing the Land		Richard Bradley	Looking at rock carvings from four or five thousand years ago, this book covers much of Atlantic Europe and includes plenty of details specific to or related to Scottish rock carvings. Easily the best book on the subject that I have read.
Picts		Anna Ritchie	A splendid (and short and cheap) introduction to the life of the Picts and the carved stones in the care of Historic Scotland.
In Search of the Picts: A Celtic Dark Age Nation		Elizabeth Sutherland	Currently my favourite book on the Picts and Pictish stones. Lots of detail and a very easy read. And splendid photographs by Tom E. Grey. Note: at present (8th June 2003) this seems to have a stupid price (more than $100) on Amazon. It cost me around 13 pounds new - that's less that $20 US. Be careful out there - there's always someone ready to rip you off! Many thanks to Ann for bringing this to my attention.
The Celtic World		Miranda J. Green (Editor)	A weighty tome giving encyclopaedic coverage of the Celts throughout Europe. An excellent reference, but probably not "holiday reading".
Scotland BC		Anna Ritchie	A good introduction (and short and cheap) to many of the prehistoric monuments and fortifications in the care of Historic Scotland.
Scotland's First Settlers		C.R. Wickham-Jones	A very good introduction to the Stone Age peoples who settled in Scotland some 9000 years ago in the Mesolithic period after the last Ice Age.
Neolithic and Bronze Age Scotland	Hardback Softback	P.J. Ashmore	A very good read, and covering my favourite period of Scottish history.
Roman Scotland		David J. Breeze	A good introduction to the Romans at the edge of their empire.
Picts, Gaels and Scots		Sally M. Foster	The Picts and the Gaels (Dal Riata) ar fascinating for the artifacts that they left and the lack of historical detail. This book gives a wonderful overview of the Picts and the Gaels, and how they became unified as the Scots. Recommended.
Iron Age Britain		Barry Cunliffe	This book looks at Iron Age life throughout Britain and is a fascinating read. Very highly recommended.