Caterthun facts for kids
Caterthun, or the Caterthuns, is a group of hills located near the town of Brechin in Angus, Scotland. These hills are famous because they are home to two ancient forts from the Iron Age. These forts are called the White Caterthun and the Brown Caterthun. They are so important that they are protected as a scheduled monument, which means they are historical sites that must be preserved.
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What are the Caterthuns?
The Caterthuns are two distinct hill forts built a very long time ago. They are found on a ridge of hills in Scotland. These forts give us clues about how people lived during the Iron Age.
The White Caterthun
The White Caterthun is on the western side of the ridge. It is known for its huge oval-shaped fort. This fort is made from a massive wall of dry stone. Dry stone means the stones are carefully stacked without any mortar or cement. The light color of these stones gives the White Caterthun its name. Inside the fort, there is a well or a cistern, which is a place to store water.
The Brown Caterthun
The Brown Caterthun is on the eastern side. Unlike the White Caterthun, this fort is made up of several large earthen embankments. These are like big mounds of earth, which is why it's called the 'Brown' Caterthun. Experts are not sure exactly why these earthworks were built. There isn't much evidence of homes, farming, or water sources here. The name "Brown" might even come from an old British word for "hill."
How Old are the Caterthun Forts?
Scientists have used a method called radio-carbon dating to figure out the age of these forts. The Brown Caterthun seems to have been built and changed over several centuries. This happened in the later part of the first millennium BC. This means it was built more than 2,000 years ago!
Parts of the White Caterthun might have been built around the same time as the Brown Caterthun. However, many believe that the main stone wall of the White Caterthun was built later. It is thought to have been built by the Picts or their ancestors in the first few centuries AD. The Picts were an ancient people who lived in eastern and northern Scotland.
What Were the Entrances For?
Both the White and Brown Caterthuns have several entrances that lead to the top. These entrances spread out like the spokes of a wheel. No one knows for sure why they were designed this way. They might have lined up with other important places that no longer exist today.
