Strongholds Of The Picts

WHEN THE ROMANS LEFT BRITAIN AROUND AD 410 THE ISLAND HAD NOT BEEN FULLY SUBJUGATED. IN THE CELTIC FRINGE OF CALEDONIA - NOW NORTHERN SCOTLAND - THESE UNCONQUERED NATIVE PEOPLES WERE PRESENTED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PILLAGE WHAT REMAINED OF ROMAN BRITAIN. WHILE SOME OLD ROMAN FORTS WERE MAINTAINED, THE POST-ROMAN BRITONS IN THE AREA CREATED NEW STRONGHOLDS, OR RE-OCCUPIED SOME OF THE LONG-ABANDONED HILL-FORTS FIRST BUILT BY THEIR ANCESTORS BEFORE THE COMING OF THE ROMANS. MEANWHILE THE CALEDONIANS - WHO EVOLVED INTO THE PICTS - RELIED ON FORTIFICATIONS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER THEIR LAND. THIS BOOK TRACES THE ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THESE NORTH BRITISH FORTS, AND TOUCHES ON THE WAY THEY SERVED AS SECULAR OR RELIGIOUS CENTERS, SEATS OF POWER, OR AS BARRIERS AGAINST INVASION.