Pictish Fort of the Mither Tap on Bennachie

➤ In this Video I will be exploring an ancient Pictish settlement at the Top of a small mountain in Scotland called Bennachie. The ruins of the Fort are at the peak of the mountain, so the start of the video shows my journey to the top.
Radiocarbon dating indicates the fort was constructed in the fifth to sixth centuries AD meaning it is very likely to be Pictish in origin.
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0:00 - Intro
0:14 - Commentary Intro
0:35 - Flying FPV Drone over Woods
1:02 - Aerial Car Shots
1:27 - Hiking up the Mountain
1:50 - Mid-Hike Check In
2:37 - Arriving at Mountain Sign-Post
3:09 - Fort Entrance Live Commentary
4:04 - Pictish Settlement History
4:50 - Arriving at Peak / Aerials
5:18 - Mountain Peak
6:05 - The Review
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Brief History Of The Picts
The Picts were a community residing in the northern regions of Great Britain, specifically north of the Forth-Clyde isthmus, during the Pre-Viking and Early Middle Ages. Information about their dwellings and cultural aspects can be deduced from early medieval writings and Pictish stones
The Picts inhabited an area previously known as the home of the Caledonii, described by Roman writers and geographers. Written history on the Picts emerged in the Early Middle Ages, with the Gaels of Dál Riata initially controlling Argyll. The Angles of Northumbria dominated much of southern Scotland until the Battle of Dun Nechtain in 685. Dál Riata remained subject to Pictish kings, and attempts to dominate the Britons of Alt Clut were unsuccessful.
The Viking Age brought significant changes, with Vikings settling in various areas, including Caithness, Sutherland, and Galloway. In the 9th century, Cínaed mac Ailpín became king of the Picts, and during his grandson Caustantín mac Áeda's reign, the region started being referred to as the Kingdom of Alba. However, Gaelicisation gradually replaced Pictish identity, and by the 11th century, the inhabitants of northern Alba became fully Gaelicised Scots. Pictish identity disappeared, and later myth and legend revived the idea of Picts as a tribe.
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Bennachie
The name of Cé survives in the place-name of the mountain Bennachie in modern-day Aberdeenshire, which means "Mountain of the people of Cé" and suggests that the hillfort on Bennachie's Mither Tap may have been Cé's preeminent settlement.
This era, is shrouded in historical ambiguity, challenges scholars due to the scarcity of settlement evidence post-3rd century AD. The transition in construction methods for houses and buildings further complicates the tracing of this period, leaving us with mere fragments of insight compared to the prolific settlements of the preceding Iron Age.
In the summer of 2019, an archaeological investigation shed light on the elusive Pictish legacy at Bennachie. The place-name itself, translated as 'Mountain of Ce,' alludes to an ancient figure mentioned in Pictish king-lists. This designation hints at Bennachie possibly being the pre-eminent site in the region. The discovery of a hillfort known as the Mither Tap adds tangible weight to this speculation.
Moreover, the Gaelic sagas, 'Orgain Benne Ce' or 'The Ravaging of Bennachie,' unveil a cryptic narrative. These lost sagas hint at a catastrophic battle or event at Bennachie, painting a vivid picture of conflict that resonates through time.
A parallel saga, 'Orgain Maige Ce la Galo mac Febail' or The Ravaging of the Plain of Ce by Galo son of Febal, suggests additional strife in the Bennachie region. Together, these remnants of sagas and the archaeological findings weave a complex tapestry of a region marked by both serenity and the echoes of ancient conflicts.
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[@scottishhistorywithnico]

Here’s a link to another one of my videos where i find another pictish fort! 👉 ua-cam.com/video/XxMjCRl2cYA/v-deo.htmlsi=_xUhQY3kteceMlGy

[@krhutcheon]

Well done, babe! 👏🏽❤

[@scottishhistorywithnico]

🙏❤️

[@graemecameron5092]

Very effective camera shots and music. I was hoping for a little more historical information.

[@scottishhistorywithnico]

Yes I agree, this was my first video on camera when i was just starting out! But all videos hence forth shall be packed with Historical info & stories! 😅

[@seanruddy]

This is amazing Nico! I have hiked there a few times and was unaware of the Pictish remains around there. Great job documenting this trip. Now make a version in Doric 😊

[@scottishhistorywithnico]

Thanks Sean! Appreciate the Feedback 👍😄

[@scottishhistorywithnico]

Hi Folks, I hope you all enjoy the video! Please let me know in the comments If there is anywhere in Scotland that you think I should visit / do a video on 👍😁