1+-+Uniquely+Scottish+weaponry,+battle+gear,+&+warfare

= = **Uniquely Scottish weaponry, ** **battle gear, & warfare ** toc = =

=Introduction=

Welcome to the Uniquely Scottish weaponry, battle gear, & warfare page. Here you can learn about the scottish weaponry of the claymor, sgian dubh, and targe,Scottish warrior battle gear of woad and lime, Heilan' Charge, Scottish highland games, and about the great highland bagpipes. Click the hyperlinks on the table of contents for easy access to each topic.

=Claymor, Sgian Dubh, & Targe - Nate L.=

=Woad & Lime - Katelynn W.= (Woad War Paint) http://www.cancer-health.info/pic/Breast-cancer-braveheart.jpg

Woad is a celtic blue paint made from a plant called Isatis tinctoria, commonly known as woad (“How”). The woad plant is originally native to the steppe and desert areas of central and western Asia (“History”). However, this plant was used as such an important source of blue die that it was imported throughout Europe (“History”). In medieval times, large plantations of woad were found in parts of England, Germany, and France (“History”). Celtics then took this plant and used it to cultivate a blue body paint. Celtic warriors during the medieval times would paint their entire bodies and face in dark blue tattoos as preparation for battle (“How”).

Lime is a calcium rich mineral extracted from limestone. It is a very sticky substance when wet and is known to have been used as a long time adhesive that was used as building material (Ancient). Celtic warriors found another use for this viscous substance in preparation for battle. Celtic warriors would mix the sticky lime with water and run in through their hair (Orvin). The lime would both bleach the hair and harden the hair in place. They would use it to comb the hair down to the nape of their neck to give them the appearance of an angry running horse which was the symbol in Celtic mythology as the sacred animal of the goddess Epona (Orvin). The hardened hair also seconded as a protective helmet to help defect or soften blows to the head during battle (Ancient).

=The Highland Charge - James A.=



====The Highland charge was a tactic used in conflict on the battlefield by Scottish Highland clan men (Scottish). It originated from earlier than the 17th century. This heroic tactic was originally based on the bold assault tactic of rushing the enemy; in an almost insanely forward method. One of the largest factors in why it was so effective, was their use of targes, for close-range defense, as well as the uses of the claymore. Their 'claymore' being the name for the Scottish long sword (Scottish).====

====As time progressed, and the increased use of muskets and the said bayonet for said rifle (Thompson). It is a very universal and adaptable method, but still has the same idea and purpose behind it. One of the few changes to the highland charge was the simple idea of the formation. It originated as a densely compact group that would commonly charge straight through enemy lines (Thompson). But later on, due to the creation and common use of the musket, the tactic was then changed from being easier compact targets, into being more environment based and would commonly include the incorporation of guerrilla warfare to better break the enemy musket lines.====

= = = = = = = = = = = =

=Highland Games - Devin D.=

The Scottish Highland Games are a group of events, where clans can come together and celebrate the Scottish and Celtic culture (Donaldson). Scottish people love their culture and heritage. They are open and willing to share their culture with anybody that is curious and the Scottish Highland Games is a great way to do just that. Some festivities that are held at this occasion are the caber toss, “putting of the stone,” pipe band competition, and highland dance competitions ("Caledonian Club of San Francisco"). The caber toss and “putting of the stone” are considered men and women athletic heavy events. The caber is the long part of the tree trunk and it is cut smaller at one end so it is easier for the competitor to hold ("Caledonian Club of San Francisco"). This event requires incredible strength and strategy. The competitor has to pick up the caber, small end facing down, and toss it so that the small end does a complete half circle in the air ("Caledonian Club of San Francisco"). The competitor that succeeds to throw the caber the farthest, within the rules of the toss, is the winner. “Putting of the stone” is the other popular of the two athletic heavy events. “Putting of the stone” is basically the same as the Olympic Game shot put except the weight of the stone is different. For men the stone weighs 17 lbs. and for women 11.6 lbs. ("Caledonian Club of San Francisco").



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/5698320/USA-the-best-summer-events-and-festivals.html

=Great Highland Bagpipes - Roni R.=

__**Introduction**__

During the first century, bagpipes were actually used in different parts of Europe and Africa (Harper). For Scottish bagpipes, many believed that the origins dated back during the Roman era in which researchers have thought to have been used ("History"). It wasn't until the 15th century in which the bagpipes grew popular in Scotland ("History".). Highlanders were the ones to use the bagpipes to the fullest, using it as their national instrument during times of peace and war ("History").


 * __ Types of Bagpipes/Materials __**

The bagpipe has a bag with a //chanter//, which is where melody was played and pipes that are the ones where you can play the continuous note is called the //drones// (Harper). In order to play it, you have to have a mouth piece or using a bellows attachment which supplies the air to the bag (Harper). The bags are usually made from leather, rubber, etc, but before they were made from sheep skin. And the pipes were traditionally made out of bone or ivory (Harper).


 * __ War Instruments __**

When being used in war, the sounds from the pipes were so loud that it could be heard up to 10 miles away ("History"). It was very popular during World War I and World War II (Harper). It symbolizes strength and it is feared among its enemies ("History").

= = = = = = = =

=Works Cited=

"Ancient Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man ." //Celtic Warriors//. Web. 4 Jun 2011. http://celts.mrdonn.org/warriors.html

Donaldson, Emily. "The Scottish Highland Games in America ." // Celtic Heritage //. Pelican Publishing Company, 12 May 1986. Web. 4 Jun 2011. .

"Games Events and Entertainment." // Caledonian Club of San Francisco //. Caledonian Club of San Francisco, 23 August 2010. Web. 4 Jun 2011. .

"History of Woad." Woad, Nov 2006. Web. 4 Jun 2011. 

"How to Be More Scottish: An Insider's Guide for the Bravehearted." Web. 4 Jun 2011. 

Orvin, Lord. "Oh! Woad is Me!." //House Barra//. Web. 4 Jun 2011. http://housebarra.com/EP/ep04/10woad.html

"History of the Bagpipes." Palm Beach Pipes & Drums, 25/03/2011. Web. 2 Jun 2011. .

Harper, Carl. "The History of Bagpipes." eHOW, 2011. Web. 2 Jun 2011. .

Scottish Heirloom. "Highland Charge." Scottish Heirloom Jewelry. Scottish Heirloom, 23 Nov. 2008. Web. 06 June 2011. .

Thompson, Chris. "The Art of the Highland Charge (a New Interpretation by the Cateran Society)." Sword Forum International | Swordforum.com. Cateran Society, 11 Apr. 2010. Web. 06 June 2011. .

=Related Links=

__Claymor, Sgian Dubh Links__

http://www.reliks.com/search.ihtml?searchterm=Scottish&step=2

__Woad and Lime Links__

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9735-from-woad-warriors-to-cancerbuster.html

http://www.ancientmilitary.com/celtic-warriors.htm

http://www.woad.org.uk/index.html

http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/celtomania/celthistory.htm

__Hielan' Charge Links__

http://wn.com/Highland_charge

__Highland Games Links__

http://www.kcscottishgames.org/

http://www.schgnc.org/

__Great Highland Bagpipes Links__

http://www.celtic-instruments.com/pipes/great-highland-bagpipes/history.html

=Additional Video Links=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0pXjWd-s70&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz7XybD8YMA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVHGexXKHL4