THREE-DIMENSIONAL images of Scotland’s largest known Pictish fort have revealed what it might have looked like more than 1000 years ago.

The new images of Burghead in Moray were based on archaeological excavations on the site by the University of Aberdeen, as part of a wider video project to allow people to learn more about our Pictish past.

They show the enormous defensive ramparts, where were once thought to be 8 metres thick and 6m high, along with dwellings inside the fort.

It has long been known that Burghead was a Pictish settlement but it was thought that the 19th century development of the modern town had eroded most traces of this period of its history.

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The fort’s landward ramparts were levelled and part of the seaward defences was destroyed in order to build the modern harbour.

Dozens of Pictish carved stones were discovered during this destruction, but just six carved bulls have survived along with a number of fragments of early Christian sculpture.

When Aberdeen University archaeologists first began excavations there in 2015, they expected little to have survived such extensive building work close by.

However, since then a very different picture has emerged and the digs, led by Professor Gordon Noble, and funded by Historic Environment Scotland and the Leverhulme Trust, have yielded some of the most significant Pictish items and building remains ever uncovered.

“The scale of houses and buildings we have discovered evidence of show that this was a densely populated and important Pictish site,” said Noble.

“We have found many objects which have helped us to learn more about the everyday lives of Burghead’s inhabitants between the 6th and 10th centuries AD. From metalworking to weaponry and even hair and dress pins, with each new dig we are finding out more about our ancestors who lived here.

“The foundations of the huge ramparts have survived far better than anyone anticipated, despite their wilful destruction over the centuries and the midden layers, which is effectively where the Picts threw their rubbish, have provided startling insights into the lives of the Picts to the archaeologists.

“It wonderful to see the work of our excavations spanning more than five years brought together in these stunning reconstructions which offer an amazing insight into how Burghead may have looked.”

Dr Alice Watterson of the University of Dundee coordinated the reconstructions, with additional filming and editing by Kieran Duncan and arial drone filming by Dr Kieran Baxter, members of Dundee’s 3DVisLab research group.

They include a spectacular well enveloped in the ramparts, elements of which can still be seen today. The archaeologists have pieced together how this fitted with dwellings and other buildings across the site.

Evidence of early Christian occupation was uncovered in previous excavations, which supports theories that a chapel once stood at the entrance to the site, and this has been translated into the 3-D design.

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Dr Kevin Grant, archaeology manager of HES, said: “Burghead fort was one of the most important places in Early Medieval Scotland, and was built to be dramatic and imposing.

“These reconstructions help us imagine experiencing this spectacular site in its hey-day. We are also delighted to support these excavations, which are transforming our understanding of Pictish Scotland and saving important archaeological remains from being lost to the waves.”

Watterson added: "Burghead has certainly been one of our most challenging projects to date. Not only has it been one of the largest sites I have reconstructed, but in order to model its full extent we had to completely remodel the landscape to remove the modern town and rebuild the eroded cliffs."