IT is a picturesque fishing village in the far north of Scotland popular with tourists attracted to its resident dolphin colony found just offshore.

But new research has revealed that Portmahomack in Sutherland was a major Pictish settlement established as a major intellectual centre.

The study found that between the 6th and 16th centuries Portmahomack was re-invented as as an elite settlement, a monastery, a Viking trading place and a mediaeval township.”

Portmahomack became the subject of one of the largest research excavations ever on the Scottish mainland in 1994. Now in the report, Portmahomack on Tarbat Ness: Changing Ideologies in North-East Scotland, the project co-directors say they have found evidence of sophisticated settlements lived in by intellectual leaders and craftsmen.

Lead director, Professor Martin Carver, said: “The Picts emerge from our excavations as prominent players in early mediaeval Britain. In the 7th century finds included a horse harness matched at the Anglo-Saxon royal burial site at Sutton Hoo in East Anglia, while in the 7th they are refining techniques for the production of vellum and vessels of precious metal used in early Christian ritual.

“The monumental sculpture in Easter Ross is the most accomplished known anywhere in early Christian Europe”.

Portmahomack is now recognised as the site of a previously unknown 8th century Pictish monastery. But it lasted only a century before its destruction by Vikings in 800 AD. Remarkably it recovered quickly as a secular trading place serving new masters but using the old monastic metal-working techniques.

In the mediaeval centuries that followed, the inhabitants turned their energies to arable farming, fishing and iron working in a series of villages beside their parish church of St Colman.

The excavation of the church itself offers a story of nine centuries of varied Christian worship.

The project was led by York University in partnership with FAS-Heritage Ltd, and paid for by Historic Environment Scotland, Highland Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the National Museums of Scotland.

Tony Watson of the Tarbat Discovery Centre, which is situated on the old church, said: “This is a wonderful study that has been taking place in various forms for almost 25 years, culminating in all the research being published in a single magnificent book.

“Portmahomack is now recognised as a site and museum with displayed finds of international importance.”

Dr Lisa Brown of Historic Environment Scotland added: “Professor Carver’s fascinating book provides a compelling case to challenge the idea that north east Scotland was somehow ‘cut off’ in this period of history. I’m sure it will provide an invaluable resource for academics and enthusiasts.”