origins of the black watch tartan

[Steve Ashton]

What jumps out to my eye in all this discussion is speaking of various Clan tartans as if a modern Clan tartan system was in place in the first quarter of the 18th century.

And the thinking that the Clan system was something that was 'set in stone' or that you could make a list of them. The Clans were always in flux. Changing in name, area, and influence.
Even if someone were to compile a list of the different Clans, that list would be totally outdated in just a few years.

And don't even get our esteemed scholars started on the idea of Septs.