Hi David, I'm sure we have exchanged emails in the past. > My question is, - have their been studies by scholars that pinpointed or > identified these ancient little villages, towns, compared them and perhaps > written books that gives their history... The best paper source is Groomes but the following new online free access service is the best I know of for information on 'extinct' placenames: http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/ You should then be able to pinpoint the location. Once you have done that look at the SAFHS Membership List at: www.safhs.org.uk where you can identify the Genealogical Society for that area. If anyone knows of books about the actuall history of the place they will. Sandy