Scottish prehistory refers to the period in Scotland before written records, spanning from the earliest human settlements around 10,000 BC to the arrival of the Romans in AD 79. During this time, various cultures developed, including the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers and the Neolithic farmers who built impressive structures like Skara Brae, a well-preserved stone village. The Bronze Age followed, marked by the introduction of metalworking and the construction of burial mounds known as barrows. This era saw the rise of complex societies, as evidenced by the standing stones and stone circles like Callanish, which reflect the spiritual and social practices of ancient Scottish communities.