There seems to be a contradiction between Ptolemy and Tacitus concerning the Caledonians. Ptolemy (flourished AD127-148), in his 'Geography', suggests that the Caledonians (Caledonii) are one of several tribes living beyond the Forth-Clyde line. From his description, it is possible to, very approximately, map their territories. On the other hand, Tacitus (writing c.AD98) regards all the country north of the Forth-Clyde line as Caledonia, and, because of the narrowness of the isthmus which separates the Forth from the Clyde (and because, at the time he was writing about, it marked the boundary between Roman occupied and unoccupied Britain), he says it "might be called another island." He records the name of just one Caledonian tribe, the Boresti, and was of the opinion that: "The red hair and large limbs of the inhabitants of Caledonia point clearly to a German origin".

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