 Limited sources indicate for the early Middle Ages indicate that there was some trade of luxury goods with continental Europe . For most of the period there are not the detailed custom accounts that exist for England , that can provide an understanding of foreign trade , with the first records for Scotland dating to the 1320s . In the early Middle Ages , the rise of Christianity meant that wine and precious metals were imported for use in religious rites , and there are occasional references of trips to and from foreign countries , such as the incident recorded by Adomnán in which St Columba went to a port to await ships bearing news , and presumably other items , from Italy . Imported goods found in archaeological sites of the period include ceramics and glass , while many sites indicate iron and precious metal working . 
