But, for thousands of years, people struggled to survive with tools of flint and stone. By about 2000 BC, the skill of metalworking reached Scotland and this would have had a tremendous effect on the lives of people. Both copper and bronze were used to make tools and weapons while gold and silver were used for jewellery and ornaments. Copper, silver and gold are all found in Scotland, but only in certain areas. Thus trade between communities would have developed.
Bronze is made by mixing three parts copper to one part tin.
As tin is only found on the European mainland or in Cornwall in the south of England, further trade would have been needed. Moulds were used to produce the desired shape. There may have been conflict between them and more established communities, as their dwellings appear to have been on the outskirts of settled areas. Apart from their expertise with metal, there were other differences between the Beaker people and the established communities. While the Neolithic people buried their dead in communal graves, the Beaker people were buried in single graves.