They are first mentioned in writtenrecords inAD 297, before theRoman conquest of Britain.[1] The name 'Pict' is from theLatinpictus meaning 'painted.' This may have been due to reports from the Romans that the Pictstattoos on their bodies,[1] along with reports that ancient Celtic Britons during Roman times would paint themselves various terms that are now translated as "woad", but originally may have meant "glass" and "green" (vitrum andglastum, respectively). This process is described as staining the skin of battle wounds a dark color, since woad is a powerfulastringent.[2][3] It may also refer to a name they called themselves, that was recorded by theRomans.[4]
The area of Scotland calledPictland gradually merged with theGaelic kingdom ofDál Riata.[7] This formed the kingdom ofAlba, later known as Scotland. Alba then expanded, absorbing the British kingdom ofStrathclyde and BernicianLothian. By the11th century the Pictish identity had become a part of theScottish people.
