Alan Torrance

Scottish storyteller Alan Torrance, who trained all the actors for Braveheart. He is wearing a warriors' kilt, which was worn by both men and women. Ancient kilts don't have stitched pleats as modern kilts do. This tartan has no name because it pre-dates the naming of tartans. (Tartans are universal and worn all over the world.)

Learning to put on an ancient kilt, 6 yards long by 60" wide. They were so long to be able to be used for many things: tents, stretcher, ripped for bandages, a blanket, etc. 

Hand-pleating the kilt before putting it on. 

If a female wears it, she wears it as an outfit/dress. When a male wears it, it is worn only over the legs. 

The pull string belt is left so it can quickly be removed in battle to remove the extra fabric.

The kilt is long to protect your legs, especially when training for battle. The locking belt holds it all in place for travel.

Sides are tucked up and doubled to make pockets and hold stones or other items. 

In cold weather you bring the back up to make a coat. Kilts keep out the dampness. 

You tie the kilt up over your opposite shoulder from your writing hand. This now makes an even bigger pocket or even a baby sling.

Females wore tartans differently. 

This process is contemplation before a battle. Putting the kilt together puts your brain in the right zone. 

For fancy affairs, the sides would be brought up and fastened with brooches. 

All Scottish families have their own tartans, but these are from modern times. In ancient times, only royalty had their own tartans. Most families had their own plants instead. (Alan's family has a yew tree.) The plant would be worn on their hat with a feather. An eagle feather means you are a captain. 

Two or three eagle feathers means you are a chief.

Shield is called a podge. The short dagger-type sword is called a duck. Both are held by the non-dominant hand. 

Broad swords were used to attack five areas: armpits, sides of knees, and throat. The Scots dressed like this are running warriors. 

Axes would be used by close warriors. Short weapons versus running weapons

A long spear rounds out the battalion of warriors, trained from age 11-18. Fought on foot with spears, axes and swords/daggers. Long weapons can be used to get a warrior on horseback or even wound a horse. 

So great listening to this Scottish storyteller and his accent!!

Women and men played the same roles in battle, all genders in ancient history went into battle. 

In contrast to Roman or Norman warriors, Scottish warriors didn't wear helmets or armor.  They knew Scots liked to attack throats and arms, so they made chain mail. 

These weapons were made to combat the armor and gut a person or horse. 

This is a claymore, as used by William Wallace. It is a two-handed sword and used in the back line. 

The basket is steel was made in the 15th century to protect the hand from damage so you wouldn't need to drop your weapon. (The swords from earlier didn't have the protection.)

Scots started using muskets once they were brought from America, but they would fire them from up high, drop them, and then charge with a sword- they didn't take the time to reload. Pistols were eventually used, but they would be thrown once fired, no time was wasted to reload. 

Mac means son of

Mc means daughter of

Men stated their line by fathers: son of son of son of, etc

Women stated their line by mothers:daughter of daughter of daughter 

Some clans had a war cry

Campbells had a war cry: Cruican!

The war cry was a powerful weapon. A thousand warriors yelling could make the enemy feel it on their skin when the sound reached them across the battlefield.

You could finish your training at age 18, but you still need to prove yourself with dance.

Dancers would do it barefoot. Dancing taught speed and agility. 

There are many different moves and increasing speed to the dances. 

Broadsword dance is done before a battle and can be massive and done in a field. It starts when the bagpipes play and is very dramatic. 1689 the savages of Scotland overcame the British when they danced before the battle, the last time claymores were used in battle. 

Dancing was also done to celebrate life and celebrate animals. 

This dance celebrates both the male and female warriors. 

The kilt is an ancient garment and was worn long before undergarments were invented. Military kilted regiments must be worn traditionally, with nothing underneath.