Editing Trow (folklore) (section)

== Origins ==

Book author Joan Dey (1991) speculates that the tradition concerning the trows{{efn|And perhaps that of the [[selkie]]}} may be based in part on the [[Norsemen|Norse]] invasions of the [[Northern Isles]]. She states that the conquest by the [[Viking]]s sent the indigenous, dark-haired [[Picts]] into hiding and that "many stories exist in Shetland of these strange people, smaller and darker than the tall, blond Vikings who, having been driven off their land into sea-caves, emerged at night to steal from the new land owners".{{sfnp|Dey|1991|p=12}}{{efn|Though, most Roman sources describe the Picts as tall, long-limbed and red or fair haired.}}

Shetland folklore spoke of the presence of the Pechs (mythologized version of the Picts) inside the fairy knolls ("trowie knowe"), who could be heard clinking their tools on silver and gold.{{harvp|Saxby|1932|pp=89, 186}}