[Illustration: _PLATE V._ _Frontispiece._ _Daniel Wilson, Delᵗ._ _William Douglas, Sculpᵗ._ THE HUNTERSTON RUNIC BROOCH _Published by Sutherland & Knox Edinr._] THE ARCHÆOLOGY AND PREHISTORIC ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. BY DANIEL WILSON HONORARY SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND. "There is in the world no kind of knowledge whereby any part of Truth is seen, but we justly account it precious; yea, that principal Truth, in comparison of which all other knowledge is vile, may receive from it some kind of light."--HOOKER. EDINBURGH SUTHERLAND AND KNOX, GEORGE STREET. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO. AND J. H. PARKER. MDCCCLI. EDINBURGH: T. CONSTABLE, PRINTER TO HER MAJESTY. TO THE MOST HONOURABLE THE MARQUESS OF BREADALBANE, KT., PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND. MY LORD MARQUESS, In presenting to my fellow-countrymen a Work devoted to the elucidation of their National Antiquities, and to the recovery of the earliest traces of Scottish arts and civilisation, I esteem it a high gratification to be permitted to dedicate it to a Scotsman, not more noble by hereditary rank and social position, than by the virtues with which he adorns his high station. To you, MY LORD, I have reason to believe that the following attempt to establish a consistent and comprehensive system of Scottish Archæology will not be without interest, as the zeal shewn by you in furthering the objects of the Society of which you are President, and the costly donations with which you have enriched its collections, prove the value you attach to the Science as a key to the discovery of important truths. I have the honour to be, MY LORD MARQUESS, Your Lordship's most obedient Servant, DANIEL WILSON. EDINBURGH, _January 1851_. CONTENTS. Page PREFACE, xi INTRODUCTION, 1 PART I.--THE PRIMEVAL OR STONE PERIOD. CHAPTER I. THE PRIMEVAL TRANSITION, 21 ... II. ABORIGINAL TRACES, 28 ... III. SEPULCHRAL MEMORIALS, 41 ... IV. DWELLINGS, 74 ... V. TEMPLES AND MEMORIAL STONES, 91 ... VI. WEAPONS AND IMPLEMENTS, 120