Ancient Scottish Lake-Dwellings or Crannogs / With a supplementary chapter on remains of lake-dwellings in England

CHAPTER II.

NOTICES, HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE, OF SCOTTISH LAKE-DWELLINGS PREVIOUS TO THE YEAR 1878.

It was not till these discoveries on the Continent had attracted universal attention that Scottish archÆologists began to look for similar remains in this country. It was then found that early historic references to island forts, and some incidental notices of the exposure of buried islands artificially formed of wood and stone, etc., during the drainage of lochs and marshes in the last, and early part of this, century, had been entirely overlooked. The merit of correctly interpreting these remains, and bringing them systematically before antiquaries, belongs to Joseph Robertson, Esq., F.S.A. Scot., who read a paper on the subject to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland on the 14th December 1857, entitled, "Notices of the Isle of the Loch of Banchory, the Isle of Loch Canmor, and other Scottish examples of the artificial or stockaded Islands, called Crannoges in Ireland, and Keltischen Pfahlbauten in Switzerland."

This communication was not published in the Society's Proceedings, the explanation of which will be found in the following note, dated June 1866, which forms the introduction to a valuable article by Dr. Stuart, F.S.A. Scot., on Scottish Crannogs:[9]—

"This paper was not printed in the Proceedings, in consequence of Mr. Robertson's desire to amplify his notices of these ancient remains. Other engagements having prevented him from carrying out his design, he recently placed his collections in my hands, with permission to add to my account of Scottish Crannogs anything from his notes which I might care to select. Of this permission I have gladly availed myself, and the passages introduced from Mr. Robertson's collection are acknowledged at the places where they occur.—J.S."

Mr. Robertson's paper, though not published, at once attracted attention, and stimulated so much further inquiry on the part of the members, that, at the very next meeting of the Society, another contribution on the subject was read by Mr. John Mackinlay, F.S.A. Scot., of which the following is an abstract. The paper is entitled "Notice of two 'Crannoges' or Palisaded Islands in Bute, with plans."[10]

Dhu-Loch, Bute.

"The Crannoge of which I am now to give an account was discovered by me in the summer of 1812, and is thus described in a letter, dated 13th February 1813, which I wrote to the late James Knox, Esq. of Glasgow, who immediately sent it to his friend, George Chalmers, Esq., author of Caledonia:—'There is a small mossy lake, called Dhu-Loch, situated in a narrow valley in the middle of that strong tract of hill-ground extending from the Dun-hill of Barone to Ardscalpsie Point, to which valley, it is said, the inhabitants of Bute were wont to drive their cattle in times of danger. I remember, when a schoolboy, to have heard that there were the remains of some ancient building in that lake, which were visible when the water was low; and happening to be in that part of the island last summer, I went to search for it. I found a low green islet about twenty yards long, which was connected with the shore, owing to the lowness of the water, after a continuance of dry weather. Not seeing any vestiges of stone foundations, I was turning away, when I observed ranges of oak piles, and on examination it appeared that the edifice had been thus constructed.

"The walls were formed by double rows of piles, 4¹/₂ feet asunder, and the intermediate space appears to have been filled with beams of wood, some of which yet remain. The bottom had been filled up to the surface of the water with moss or turf, and covered over with shingle, or quarry rubbish, to form a floor. The ground-plan was a triangle, with one point towards the shore, to which it had been connected by a bridge or stage, some of the piles of which are still to be traced."

Mr. Chalmers, in his letter to Mr. Knox of 26th April 1813, relative to the above communication, says:—"It goes directly to illustrate some of the obscurest antiquities of Scotland—I mean the wooden castles—which belong to the Scottish period when stone and lime were not much used in building. I will make proper use of this discovery of Mr. Mackinlay."

On revisiting this island in 1826, Mr. Mackinlay observed "an extension of the fort on the south-east corner, formed by small piles and a frame-work of timbers laid across each other, in the manner of a raft."

Loch Quien, Buteshire.

There was another insular fort in Loch Quien, which Mr. Mackinlay describes as a crannog; but not being able to get on the islet, his measurements are conjectural, and need not be further referred to. He then states that two rows of piles extended obliquely to the shore of the lake, between which the ground was covered with flat stones, "not raised like a causeway, but rather seeming to have been used as stepping-stones."

Dr. Robertson's views on Scottish Crannogs.

Before resuming the chronological sequence of further discoveries, it becomes a matter of duty, on historical grounds, to refer more particularly to Mr. Robertson's views, notwithstanding that it is almost entirely to Dr. Stuart's elaborate paper, published some nine years later, that we are now indebted for any detailed record of his investigations. At the same time I shall take the opportunity of giving a few extracts of the incidental notices of artificial islands culled from other sources.

Fig. 1.—Canoe found in Loch Canmor.

Fig. 2.—(Height 10¹/₂ inches.) Found in Loch Canmor.

Fig. 3.—(Height 11 inches.) Fig. 4.—(Height 9 inches.)

Found in the Loch of Banchory.

In the excellent article on Crannoges in Chambers's EncyclopÆdia (written, I believe, by Mr. Robertson), the following epitome of his opinions and researches is given:—"Hitherto, archÆologists knew of lake-dwellings as existing only in Ireland and Switzerland; but in 1857, Mr. Joseph Robertson read a paper to the Society of Scottish Antiquaries, proving that they were to be found in almost every province of Scotland. He not only ascertained the existence of about fifty examples, but was able to show from records that they were known in Scotland by the same name[11] of Crannoges, which they received in Ireland. The resemblance between the Scottish and Irish types seems, indeed, to be complete. Every variety of structure observed in the one country is to be found in the other, from the purely artificial island, framed of oak-beams, mortised together, to the natural island, artificially fortified or enlarged by girdles of oak-piles or ramparts of loose stones; from the island with a pier projecting from its side, to the island communicating with the mainland by a causeway. If there be any difference between the crannoges of the two countries, it is that the number of crannoges constructed altogether of stones is greater in Scotland than in Ireland—a difference which is readily explained by the difference in the physical circumstances, of the two countries. Among the more remarkable of the Scotch crannoges is that in the loch of Forfar, which bears the name of St. Margaret, the queen of King Malcolm Canmore, who died in 1097. It is chiefly natural, but has been strengthened by piles and stones, and the care taken to preserve this artificial barrier is attested by a record of the year 1508.[12] Another crannoge—that of Lochindorb, in Moray—was visited by King Edward I. of England in 1303, about which time it was fortified by a castle of such mark, that in 1336 King Edward III. of England led an army to its relief through the mountain passes of Athol and Badenoch.[14] A third crannoge—that of Loch Cannor or Kinord, in Aberdeenshire—appears in history in 1335, had King James IV. for its guest in 1506, and continued to be a place of strength until 1648, when the estates of Parliament ordered its fortifications to be destroyed. It has an area of about an acre, and owes little or nothing to art beyond a rampart of stones and a row of piles. In the same lake there is another and much smaller crannoge, which is wholly artificial.[15] Forty years after the dismantling of the crannoge of Loch Cannor, the crannoge of Lochan-Eilean, in Strathspey, is spoken of as 'useful to the country in times of troubles or wars, for the people put in their goods and children here, and it is easily defended.' Canoes (Fig. 1) hollowed out of the trunks of oaks have been found, as well beside the Scotch as beside the Irish crannoges. Bronze vessels, apparently for kitchen purposes (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), are also of frequent occurrence, but do not seem to be of a very ancient type. Deer's horns, boars' tusks, and the bones of domestic animals, have been discovered; and in one instance a stone hammer, and in another what seem to be pieces for some such game as draughts or backgammon, have been dug up." (Fig. 7.)

Figs. 5 and 6.—Bronze Pots found in Loch of Banchory.

Fig. 7.—Found in Loch of Forfar (¹/₁).

The Isle of the Loch of Banchory.

"Before the recent drainage of the Loch of Leys—or the Loch of Banchory, as it was called of old—the loch covered about 140 acres, but, at some earlier date, had been four or five times as large. It had one small island, long known to be artificial, oval in shape, measuring nearly 200 feet in length by about 100 in breadth, elevated about 10 feet above the bottom of the loch, and distant about 100 yards from the nearest point of the mainland. What was discovered as to the structure of this islet will be best given in the words of the gentleman, of whose estate it is a part, Sir James Horn Burnett, of Crathes. In a communication which he made to this Society in January 1852, and which is printed in the first part of our Proceedings, he quotes from his diary of the 23d July 1850, as follows:—'Digging at the Loch of Leys renewed. Took out two oak trees laid along the bottom of the lake, one 5 feet in circumference and 9 feet long; the other shorter. It is plain that the foundation of the island has been of oak and birch trees laid alternately, and filled up with earth and stones. The bark was quite fresh on the trees. The island is surrounded by oak piles, which now project 2 or 3 feet above ground. They have evidently been driven in to protect the island from the action of water.' Below the surface were found the bones and antlers of a red deer of great size, kitchen vessels of bronze, a mill-stone (taking the place of the quern in the Irish crannogs), a small canoe, and a rude, flat-bottomed boat about 9 feet long, made, as in Ireland and Switzerland, from one piece of oak. Some of the bronze vessels were sent to our Museum by Sir James Burnett, and are now on the table (Figs. 3 to 6). The general appearance of the island as it now is, since the bottom of the lake was turned into corn land, is represented by Fig. 8. The surface of the crannog was occupied by a strong substantial building (Fig. 9). This has latterly been known by the name of the Castle of Leys, and tradition, or conjecture, speaks of it as a fortalice, from which the Wauchopes were driven during the Bruces' wars, adding that it was the seat of the Burnetts until the middle of the sixteenth century, when they built the present Castle of Crathes. A grant of King Robert I. to the ancestors of the Burnetts includes lacum de Banchory cum insula ejusdem. The island again appears in record in the year 1619, and 1654 and 1664, under the name of 'The Isle of the Loch of Banchory.' Banchory itself, I may add, is a place of very ancient note. Here was the grave of one of the earliest of our Christian missionaries, St. Ternan, archbishop of the Picts, as he is called in the old Service-Books of the Church, which add that he received baptism from the hands of St. Palladius. Along with St. Ternan's Head and St. Ternan's Bell, called the 'Ronnecht,' there was preserved at Banchory, until the Reformation, a still more precious relic, one of four volumes of the Gospel which had belonged to him, with its case of metal wrought with silver and gold."—(Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. vi. p. 126.)

Fig. 8.—Isle of the Loch of Banchory. (General view of site.)

Fig. 9.—Isle of the Loch of Banchory. (Surface of Crannog.)

The following extracts regarding artificial islands incidentally observed in various parts of Scotland, brought to light chiefly in the course of drainage operations in search of marl or for the recovery of boggy land, may be now read with interest before resuming the narrative of more recent discoveries:—

Lochrutton, Kirkcudbrightshire.

"This loch is about a mile in length, and half a mile broad. In the middle of it there is a small island, about half a rood in extent, of a circular form. It seems to have been, at least in part, artificial. Over its whole surface there is a collection of large stones which have been founded on a frame of oak planks."—(Old Stat. Account, vol. ii. p. 37.)

Loch Kinder, Kirkcudbrightshire.

"In Loch Kinder there is an artificial mount of stones, rising 6 or 7 feet above the surface of the water, supposed to have been constructed for the purpose of securing the most valuable effects of the neighbouring families from the depredations of the borderers. The stones stand on a frame of large oaks, which is visible when the weather is clear and calm."—(Old Stat. Account, vol. ii. p. 139.)

Carlingwark Loch, Kirkcudbrightshire.

"When the water was let out of the Carlingwark Loch, in the year 1765, at the mouth of the drain next to the loch there was found a dam, or building of stone, moss, and clay, which appears to have been designed for deepening the loch. Besides this stone dam there was one of oak wood and earth, at the end of the town of Castle Douglas, now covered by the military road. About this place many horse-shoes were found sunk deep in the mud, of quite a different make from those now in use. Several very large stag-heads were got in the loch; a large brass pan was also found in it. Near the south-west corner of the loch a brass pugio or dagger, 22 inches long, and plated with gold, was raised from the bottom in a bag of marl. Before it was drained there were two isles in the loch—the one near the north end, and the other near the south end of it. These isles were places of rest for large quantities of water-fowls of various kinds, which annually came and bred there; even wild geese, it is said, have been sometimes known to breed on these isles. There was always a tradition in the parish that there had been a town in the loch which sunk, or was drowned; and that there were two churches or chapels—one on each of the large isles.... The vestige or foundation of an iron forge was discovered on the south isle. Around it, likewise, there had been a stone building, or rampart; and from this isle to the opposite side, on the north-east, there is a road of stone secured by piles of oak wood, with an opening, supposed to have been for a drawbridge. In several places of the loch canoes were found which appear to have been hollowed, after the manner of the American savages, with fire. On a small isle, near the north end of the loch, there was found a large iron mallet or hammer stained on one end with blood. It is now in the hands of the Antiquarian Society at Edinburgh, and is supposed to have been an instrument used by the ancient Druids in killing their sacrifices. On several of the little isles in the loch were large frames of black oak, neatly joined. There are two small isles that have been evidently formed by strong piles of wood driven into the moss and marl, on which were placed large frames of black oak. The tops of these were fully 6 feet under water before the loch was drained. The design of these works is not at present known."—(Old Stat. Account, vol. viii. p. 304.)

Fig. 10.—Caldron found in Carlingwark Loch.

A large bronze caldron, found by Mr. Samuel Gordon and J. T. Blackley while fishing near the Fir Island, and dredged out of the loch, contained a large number of iron and bronze implements (Fig. 10). When this caldron was raised, it was shining like gold. Mr. Gordon thinks it was left by Edward I., who had a camp on the Fir Island, and that it was deposited to prevent the Gallovidians getting any metal in their possession. A bronze sword was also found in this Loch, which is now in the National Museum, Scotland.—(Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. vii. p. 7; and x. p. 286.)

Loch Spinie, Morayshire.

"Near it (the Bishop's Palace), where the water is deepest, a small artificial island emerged, upon clearing out the canal, of an oval form, about 60 by 16 paces, appearing to be composed of stones from the quarry, bound together by crooked branches of oak, and as if the earth, with which it was completed, had been wholly washed off during its submersion."—(Old Stat. Account, vol. x. p. 625.)

Loch of Boghall, Beith, Ayrshire.

"In the map of Cunninghame in Bleau's Atlas, published in 1654, there is laid down a piece of water called the Loch of Boghall. This loch belonged to the Monastery of Kilwinning, and was of old called Loch Brand. In the Acta Dominorum Concilii there is mention made of a case, 10th December 1482, at the instance of the Abbot and Convent of Kilwinning against, etc. etc., who were accused of the dangerous destruction and down-casting of the fosses and dikes of the Loch called Loch Brand.... The loch was drained about sixty years ago, when firm stakes of oak and elm were found in the soil, and which had been used for fixing the nets for fishing."—(New Stat. Account, vol. v. p. 580.)

Parish of Culter, Lanarkshire.

"In the midst of a morass, half a mile north-east from the farm of Nisbet, may be seen a very singular remnant of antiquity. A mound of an oval shape, called the Green Knowe, measuring about 30 yards by 40, rises about two or three feet above the surface of the surrounding bog. On penetrating into the elevating mass, it is found to consist of stones of all different kinds and sizes, which seem to have been tumbled promiscuously together without the least attempt at arrangement. Driven quite through this superincumbent mass are a great number of piles, sharpened at the point, about three feet long, made of oak of the hardest kind, retaining the marks of the hatchet, and still wonderfully fresh. A causeway of large stones connects this mound with the firm ground."—(New Stat. Account, vol. vi. p. 346.)

Loch Rannoch, Perthshire.

"There are two small islands situate in the upper end of the lake. The east and large one is wholly artificial, resting upon large beams of wood fixed to each other. This island was sometimes used as a place of safety in cases of emergency; at other times, as a place of confinement for such as rebelled against or offended the chief. To this retreat there is a road from a point on the south side—which road is always covered with 3 or 4 feet of water, is very narrow, and has a great depth on both sides of it."—(New Stat. Account, vol. x. p. 539.)

Parish of Croy, Inverness-shire.

"In draining a lake at the east-end of the parish, an artificial mound appeared within a few yards of the shore, about 60 feet in circumference, and 5 feet in height. It was formed of alternate strata of stones, earth, and oak; piles of oak being driven in the ground were kept strongly fixed by transverse beams of smaller size. Over these were round stones, and on the surface some inches of fine black mould. Some fragments of brass rings, pieces of potteries, and the bolt of a lock, of no ordinary size, were found on the mound.

"At about 100 yards' distance there is a circle of large piles of oak, driven deep in the earth, apparently the commencement of a second mound; but for what purpose they were intended it is impossible to conjecture. They could not be places of defence, as the one finished was so near the edge of the lake, and completely commanded by the opposite rising bank. While draining the lake by cutting a deep canal, oaks of gigantic size were found more than 20 feet below the surface, as sound as the day they were overwhelmed by water, sand, and gravel. At the same time a canoe of most beautiful workmanship was found, which some modern Goth has since cut down for mean and servile purposes."—(New Stat. Account, vol. xiv. p. 448.)

Lochs of Kinellan and Achilty, Contin, Ross-shire.

"In Lake Kinellan stands an artificial island, resting upon logs of oak, on which the family of Seaforth had at one period a house of strength.... There is still in Loch Achilty a small island, likewise supposed to be artificial. It belonged to Mac Lea Mor, i.e. Great Mac-Lea, who possessed at the same time a large extent of property in the parish; and who was wont, in seasons of danger, to retire to the island as a place of refuge from his enemies. The ruins of the buildings which he there occupied may still be traced."—(New Stat. Account, vol. xiv. p. 238.)

Loch Cot, Parish of Torphichen.

"The loch lies at the foot of the southern slope of Bowden Hill, and is now drained. An old man who belonged to Dr. Duns's (New College, Edinburgh) congregation when he was at Torphichen, more than once described to him the appearance of the loch before it was drained—'its central island, and the big logs taken from it and burned.' Horns were also found in the loch, but were neglected, and have disappeared. Dr. Duns found part of a quern on an examination of the site; and on digging into a mound at a short distance eastward from the loch, he found an urn of rude type. To the south are the remains of a circular earthwork; and to the south-west, traces of what has been called a Roman camp; and to the south, a camp of peculiar form, noticed by Sibbald."—(Dr. Stuart's article, Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. vi.)

Castle Loch, Lochmaben.

In the Castle Loch of Lochmaben is a small artificial island now sunk several feet under the water, from which during dry weather on several occasions some of the oak mortised beams have been fished up.

Loch Lochy, Inverness-shire.

Dr. Stuart quotes the following account of a crannog in Loch Lochy from Mr. Robertson's notes, extracted by the latter from a ms. in the Advocates' Library, written towards the end of the seventeenth century. "Ther was of ancient ane lord in Loquhaber, called my Lord Cumming, being a cruell and tyirrant superior to the inhabitants and ancient tenants of that countrie of Loquhaber. This lord builded ane iland or an house on the south-east head of Loghloghae; ... and when summer is, certain yeares or dayes, one of the bigge timber jests, the quantitie of an ell thereof will be sein above the water. And sundrie men of the countrie were wont to goe and se that jest of timber which stands there as yett; and they say that a man's finger will cast it too and fro in the water, but fortie men cannot pull it up, because it lyeth in another jest below the water."—(Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. vi. p. 160.)

Loch Lomond.

Regarding a crannog in Loch Lomond,[16] in the neighbourhood of a stone cashel on shore, from which large mortised joists were disjoined in 1714, and used by a gentleman in that country for building a house, see extracts from Dr. Robertson's notes, Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. vi. p. 132.

Loch of the Clans, Nairnshire.

In 1863 a paper by Dr. Grigor of Nairn was read at the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, in which the author describes a curious cairn with "oak beams and sticks cropping out in it," and surrounded by a ploughed field which was formerly part of the basin of the Loch of the Clans, from which I give the following extracts:—

"On getting down into the cairn, we found that all the wood in sight was chiefly the remains of rafters, and inclined upwards at about an angle of 25 degrees, so as to form an upright roof. These, however, had been broken across (as represented on the sketch, Plate I.), no doubt by their own partial decay and the superincumbent weight of stones. On further clearing and digging, we came upon four sides or walls, each about 3 feet in height, and making an irregular square. These were formed of trees of oak, comparatively sound, and about thirty years' probable growth. On the west side, there were seven trees piled horizontally, one above the other; the third from the ground had another alongside it. Seven trees also formed the east side. The north side was made up of a foundation of small boulders, then two horizontal trees, over which projected a few rafters, and then another tree. At the east end of this wall there was a mortised opening, in which, in all probability, an upright support had been placed. The south side had been, to all appearance, partially removed when that end of the cairn was carted off by the tenant-farmer, and only one tree at the bottom was seen. These sides are correctly represented in the accompanying sketches, and the scale renders it unnecessary to particularise measurements. The floor was the mud bottom of the old loch, and there were two small trees stretching from east to west, with the appearance of decayed brushwood throughout, and a boulder stone here and there. Not exactly in the centre, but nearer the south-east corner, lay a few boulders bearing marks of fire, and having portions of charcoal around them. This was all that could be seen as a hearth.

"Nothing of any interest was found in the way of clearance. There were portions of decomposed bones, a bit of pottery (evidently modern), the mouth-piece of a horn spoon, and a cockle shell, and these probably had fallen through the cairn.

"To all appearance the rafters started from the ground in three tiers, having different angles of inclination, though those of the roof seemed to have run up pretty much together near the ground. These were bound down by beams crossing and recrossing in all directions, which imparted greater strength. Beyond two mortised openings no other mode of fastening could be seen."

PLATE 1

LOCH-OF-THE-CLANS, Nairnshire

The articles found in the course of the explorations of this cairn, or crannoge, were a portion of a small stone cup, two whetstones, and an iron axe-head, together with charcoal and burnt bones. In the vicinity there were found some flint arrow-heads and flakes, and, some years ago, a canoe.

"About 150 feet, in a south-easterly direction from this place, and in marshy ground, were found a great many pile-heads, covered with grass and vegetable matter; and after removing this covering they stood as shown in the accompanying plan and scale. This is no doubt the foundation of another crannoge or lake habitation. An area of 6 feet in the centre seemed, so far as I examined, to have been laid with large stones, and intersected with small trees and stakes. Beyond this space I observed no stones, only the mud of the lake, and a few bits of small trees. Three stones in the centre seemed marked by fire; and below those I turned over, and under water, there was a good deal of charcoal mixed with small bits of bone.

"In the neighbouring 'Loch of Flemington,' and covered with several feet of water, are to be seen, when the water is frozen over, similar remains of piles.

"In the east end of the small pond called 'Loch in Dunty,' about two miles in a westerly direction from that of Flemington, are to be observed three vestiges of piles about a foot above water; these, notwithstanding the evidence of a Highlander living close by, 'that the piles had been put into the loch in auld time, for the purpose of steeping the lint,' are, in my opinion, of the same description, day and generation, as those I have attempted to describe in the Loch of the Clans."—(Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. v. pp. 116, 332.)

Loch of Sanquhar, Dumfries-shire.

In June 1863, Dr. Grierson of Thornhill announced, at a meeting of the Dumfries-shire and Galloway Natural History Society, that an ancient stockade had been found in a small loch near Sanquhar. He observed, "that about five weeks ago, a man drowned himself in a tarn about two miles north of Sanquhar. In order to recover the body, the water was drained off, when it was found that a small island in the middle of the loch or tarn was artificial, and had been constructed of stakes with stones between, and had been approached by a zigzag line of stepping-stones. It was thought that the loch might be altogether artificial, forming, as it were, a moat or fosse to the little fort."—(Proceedings, Session 1863-4, p. 12.)

During the summer of 1865, the members of the Society made an excursion to this loch for the purpose of examining the crannog, the result of which is described by the President (the late Sir W. Jardine, Bart.) in his annual address, and from which the following extracts are taken:[17]—

"This loch is of considerable depth, and now covers about 2 acres. At the north end of this there is a small island covered with a rank vegetation of grasses, carices, etc., mixed with a few plants of Epilobium angustifolium, and there are also a few stunted trees of Scotch fir and birch. At the north or north-east end there is a natural outlet from the loch through the moss, which could be easily deepened." ... (This outlet was deepened previous to their visit, and the water drained off so as to facilitate the examination of the island.)
"When first seen, after the bottom was laid dry, a few upright piles were observed, and the curving narrow passage from the mainland appeared somewhat raised, and was hard below the immediate mud deposit, as if a sort of rough causeway had been formed; and when the water was at its height, or nearly level with the surface of the island, persons acquainted with the turn or winding of the passage could wade to it. The base of the slope of the island was laid or strengthened with stones, some of considerable size, so placed as to protect the wooden structure. Round the island could be seen driven piles, to which were attached strong transverse beams, and upon making a cut 6 or 7 feet wide into the side of the island to ascertain its structure, we found a platform of about 4 feet in depth raised by transverse beams placed alternately across each other, and kept in position by driven piles. These last were generally self oak trees, but dressed and sharpened by a metal tool, some of them mortised at the heads where a transverse rail or beam could be fixed. The transverse beams, of various sizes, were chiefly of birch wood.... On the surface of the island there were some indications of buildings, but on examination these were found to be only the erection of curlers for fire, or the protection of their channel-stones when not in use. No remains of any kind were found on the island nor around it, but, except on the passage from the mainland, the mud was so deep and soft as to prevent effectual search. Neither have we any record of any other remains being found in or near the loch except the canoe already alluded to. It is formed out of a single oak tree, 16 feet in length by 3 feet broad at the widest part, at the prow only 1 foot 10 inches."

Loch Barean, Kirkcudbrightshire.

The following facts were communicated to the author by John J. Reid, Esq., F.S.A. Scot., Edinburgh:—

Loch Barean, situated in a mountainous patch in the parish of Colvend, is about five miles from Dalbeattie, and not far from the main road leading from this town to Colvend Manse. It is a deep peaty sort of a loch, very irregularly shaped, measuring about 1950 feet in length, with a breadth varying from 600 to 1150 feet, and is bounded on the east by a barren ridge of rock which runs along its margin. In 1865 the level of this loch was lowered by drainage, when a few stones, which used to become visible in dry summers, turned out to be an artificial island constructed of wooden beams. Shortly after exposure, it was visited by the late Sir W. Jardine, Dr. Stuart, Secretary to the Society of Antiquaries, and others, and found to be surrounded by a circle of oak piles enclosing a wooden flooring. "None of these piles were visible above the water. On this oak piling beams had been laid horizontally, some oak and some of fir still retaining the bark. The space within this piling was nearly circular in shape, and measured about 24 feet in diameter; but, outside the piling, and between it and the loch, there was an area, from 5 to 8 feet wide, filled with angular granite blocks to assist in protecting the wooden flooring."

Two metal "pots" were found on the island, of which only one now remains. It is of thin beaten bronze, flat-bottomed, with bulging sides and everted lip. Its dimensions are: height 5 inches, diameter of mouth 4³/₄ inches, do. of bottom 3³/₄ inches, and do. in middle 5³/₄ inches.[18]

Crannogs in Loch Dowalton.

A more important discovery, made about the same time, was a group of artificial islands in Lake Dowalton, Wigtownshire, which were first described by Lord Lovaine, in a paper read to the British Association in 1863. Mr. John Stuart, Secretary to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, then took up the subject, and, owing to a greater drainage of the loch having been made in the interval, was enabled to re-examine the Dowalton islands under more favourable circumstances. The result of his labours was an elaborate paper to the Society, in which he gave a detailed account of the structure and relics of these crannogs, and also took the opportunity of incorporating into his article all the facts he could glean, so as to afford a basis for comparing the Scottish examples with those in other countries. I have taken advantage of some of the contents of this paper on a previous occasion when discussing Mr. Robertson's investigations of Scottish crannogs. The following is the substance of Dr. Stuart's examination and report of the Dowalton group:[19]—

The late Loch of Dowalton was of an irregular form, about 1 1/2 mile long, and about 3/4ths of a mile in greatest breadth, and without any marked outfall for drainage. Sir William Maxwell effected this by making a cut, 25 feet deep, through the wall of whinstone and slate which closed it in at its south-eastern extremity. Dr. Stuart, who availed himself of Lord Lovaine's previous description of the island abodes that became visible on the drainage of the loch, describes them in order of succession, beginning at the west end:—

"The first is called Miller's Cairn, from its having been a mark of the levels, when the loch was drained by cuts for feeding neighbouring mills. One of these cuts is known to have been made at a remote period. It was still surrounded by water when the place was visited by Lord Percy in 1863. On approaching the cairn, the numerous rows of piles which surrounded it first attracted notice. These piles were formed of young oak-trees. Lying on the north-east side were mortised frames of beams of oak, like hurdles, and, below these, round trees laid horizontally. In some cases the vertical piles were mortised into horizontal bars. Below them were layers of hazel and birch branches, and under these were masses of fern, the whole mixed with large boulders, and penetrated by piles. Above all was a surface of stones and soil, which was several feet under water till the recent drainage took place. The hurdle frames were neatly mortised together, and were secured by pegs in the mortise holes.

"On one side of the island a round space of a few feet in size appeared, on which was a layer of white clay, browned and calcined as from the action of fire, and around it were bones of animals and ashes of wood. Below this was a layer of fern and another surface of clay, calcined as in the upper case. A small piece of bronze was found between the two layers. On the top another layer of fern was found, but the clay, and the slab which probably rested upon it, had been removed. There can be no doubt that this had been used as a hearth. Near this cairn a bronze pan was found.... Lines of piles, apparently to support a causeway, led from it to the shore.

"The next in order is the largest island. Lord Percy succeeded in reaching it in a boat in 1863. It appeared to him to be 3 feet below the level of the other islands, and, from several depressions on its surface, to have sunk. The progress of excavation was, however, soon checked by the oozing in of the water. On the south side of the island great pains had been taken to secure the structure; heavy slabs of oak, 5 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 2 inches thick, were laid one upon another in a sloping direction, bolted together by stakes inserted in mortises of 8 inches by 10 inches in size, and connected by square pieces of timber 3 feet 8 inches in length. The surface of the island was of stones, resting on a mass of compressed brushwood, below which were branches and stems of small trees, mostly hazel and birch, mingled with stones, apparently for compressing the moss. Below this were layers of brushwood, fern, and heather, intermingled with stones and soil, the whole resting on a bed of fern 3 or 4 feet in thickness. The mass was pinned together by piles driven into the bottom of the loch, some of which went through holes in the horizontal logs. I noticed some of these flat beams of great size and length (one of them 12 feet long), with three mortise holes in the length, 7 inches square. A thick plank of oak of about 6 feet in length had grooves on its two edges, as if for something to slide in. This island measured 23 yards across, and was surrounded by many rows of piles, some of which had the ends cut square over, as if by several strokes of a small hatchet. Vestiges of branches were observed interlaced in the beams of the hurdles. On the north-east side, and under the superstructure of the island (hurdles and planks), a canoe was found, made of a single tree of oak. It was 21 feet in length, 3 feet 10 inches across over all near the stern, which was square. Its depth at the stern was 17 inches, or, including the back-board which closed the stern, 20 inches. The stern was formed by a plank inserted in a groove on each side, with a back-board pegged on above it. The part containing the grooves was left very thick. There were two thole-pins on each side, inserted in squared holes in the solid, which was left to receive them, and wedged in with small bits of wood. One thwart of fir or willow remained. A plank or wash-board projecting a few inches over the edge, ran round the canoe. It rested on the top, and was fastened with pegs into the solid....

"On one spot a few flat stones were placed as if for a hearth. The best saucepan was found between this island and the shore. A small circular brooch of bronze, four whetstones, two iron hammers, and some lumps of iron slag, were found on the island. A third iron hammer was found near it.

"The original depth from the surface of the island to the bottom was probably from 6 to 7 feet; but the structure was much dilapidated before I saw it.

"Proceeding southward, we come to the island first examined by Lord Percy. It proved to be nearly circular, and to be about 13 yards in diameter. Its surface was raised about 5¹/₂ feet above the mud, and on each side of it were two patches of stone nearly touching it. On the north side lay a canoe of oak, between the two patches, and surrounded by piles, the heads just appearing above the surface of the mud. It was 24 feet long, 4 feet 2 inches broad in the middle, and 7 inches deep, the thickness of the bottom being 2 inches. Under the stones which covered the surface, teeth of swine and oxen were found. A trench was cut round the islet, and at the south end a small quantity of ashes was turned up, in which were teeth and burned bones, part of an armlet of glass covered with a yellow enamel, and a large broken bead of glass, together with a small metal ornament; two other pieces of a glass armlet, one striped blue and white, were also found on the surface. These objects were found on the outside of the islet, about 2 feet from the surface. On cutting into the islet itself, it proved to be wholly artificial, resting on the soft bottom of the loch, and in its composition exactly the same as the large island already described. The whole mass was pinned together by piles of oak and willow, some of them driven 2¹/₂ feet into the bottom of the loch. The islet was surrounded by an immense number of piles, extending to a distance of 20 yards around it; and masses of stone, which apparently were meant to act as breakwaters, were laid amongst them. On the sinking of the mud, a canoe was found between the islet and the northern shore. It was 18¹/₂ feet long, and 2 feet 7 inches wide. A block of wood cut to fill a hole, left probably by a rotten branch, was inserted in the side, 2 feet long, 7 inches wide, and 5¹/₂ inches thick, and was secured by pegs driven through the side; across the stern was cut a deep groove to admit a back-board; in both canoes a hole 2 inches in diameter was bored in the bottom.

"The next islet is about 60 yards from the last, and nearer to a rocky projection, on the south margin of the loch. It was examined by Lord Percy and was found to be smaller; the layers were not so distinctly marked, and some of the timbers inserted under the upper layer of brushwood were larger, and either split or cut to a face. A stake with two holes bored in it about the size of a finger, a thin piece of wood in which mortises had been cut, and a box, the interior of which was about 6 inches cube, with a ledge to receive the cover, very rudely cut out of a block of wood, were found.

"On the south-east side of the loch, near one of the little promontories, were several cairns surrounded by piles, of which the outline had mostly disappeared at the time of my visit. When they were first seen by Lord Percy, there were six structures of the same character as those already described, arranged in a semicircle. They were, however, much smaller than the others, and appeared to have been single dwellings. Though upon some of them charred wood was found, nothing else was discovered except a mortised piece of timber, which might have been drifted there; and in one, inserted under the upper layer of brushwood, a large oak beam, measuring 8 feet long by 3 in circumference.

"This group of small islets was close to the shore. They had, however, been surrounded by water at the time the level of the loch reached the highest beach-mark. I could not discover any causeway or piled connection with the shore.

"Near the north margin of the loch, a canoe was found in the mud. It measured 25 feet in length, and was strengthened by a projecting cross band towards the centre, left in the solid in hollowing out the inside."

Relics found at Dowalton.

The relics found in the course of these investigations at Dowalton Loch were presented to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland by Sir William Maxwell of Monreith in 1865, and they are now deposited in the National Museum, Edinburgh. The following description of them is taken from the Proceedings of the Society, vol. vi. p. 109:—

Square-shaped stone, 5 inches in length, 1 inch in breadth, and ⁵/₈ inch in thickness, and tapering to a point ⁵/₈ inch square; probably a whetstone.

Three bronze basins: one measures 10 inches in diameter, and 4 inches in depth. It is formed of sheet metal, fastened by rivets, with portions of an iron handle. This pot or basin shows several patches or mendings (Fig. 11).

Fig. 11.—Bronze Basin (height 4 inches).

Another vessel of bronze measures 12 inches in diameter, and 4 inches in depth. It appears to have been made by hammering it into shape out of one piece of metal.

The third vessel measures 12 inches in diameter, and 3 inches in depth, and is also formed out of one piece of metal.

Fig. 12.—Bronze Basin (height 3 inches).

On its upper edge is a turned-over or projecting rim, 1 inch in breadth (Fig. 12).

Pot or patella of yellowish-coloured bronze, with a handle springing from the upper edge, 7 inches in length, on which is stamped the letters Cipipoliei. At the further extremity is a circular opening. The bottom is ornamented by five projecting rings, and measures in diameter 6 inches; it is 8 inches in diameter across the mouth; the inside appears to be coated with tin, and has a series of incised lines at various distances. The vessel is ornamented on the outside opposite to the handle by a human face in relief, surrounded by a moveable ring, which could be used in lifting the pot (Fig. 13).

Fig. 13.—Bronze Pot (height 5¹/₂ inches).

Bronze ring, measuring 3¹/₂ inches in diameter, which passes through a loop fastened to a portion of broken bronze, apparently part of the upper edge of a large bronze vessel, the ring having formed one of the handles (Fig. 14).

Small very rude clay cup or crucible, 2 inches in height (Fig. 15).

Bronze implement, being a short tube 1 inch in length, with a projecting rim at one extremity, which is 2 inches in diameter. It is not unlike in shape to the socket portion of a modern candlestick.

Bronze penannular ring or brooch, 1³/₄ inch in diameter, with bulbous extremities (Fig. 16).

Fig. 14.—Bronze Ring (¹/₂).

Small plain bronze ring, 1 inch in diameter.

Small portion of bronze, probably portion of a vessel.

Fig. 15.—Crucible (¹/₂).

Fig. 16.—Bronze Penannular Brooch (¹/₁).

Small bronze plate or ornament, 1 inch in length, having a projecting tongue at three of its corners, each projecting portion being pierced with a hole through in its centre.

Two iron axe-heads: one with a square-shaped head, which tapers to a sharp cutting face, and measures 6¹/₂ inches long; it has a large perforation close to the square head for receiving the handle (Fig. 17). The other measures 6 inches in length. The perforation for the handle is near the centre; and one end has a sharp cutting face, the other a blunt rounded extremity, or head (Fig. 18).

Fig. 17.—Iron Axe (¹/₂). Fig. 18.—Iron Axe (¹/₂). Fig. 19.—Iron Hammer (¹/₂).

Iron hammer-head, 8¹/₂ inches in length, with hole in the centre for handle; the head is square, and tapers slightly to a blunt face (Fig. 19).

Several masses of iron slag.

Wooden boat paddle, the blade measures 2 feet 4 inches in length, by 10 inches in breadth, and 1 inch in thickness. It has a short rounded handle, measuring 7 inches in length.

Half of a ring, 3 inches in diameter, formed of white glass or vitreous paste, and streaked with blue (Fig. 20).

Half of a similar ring, formed of yellow-coloured glass or vitreous paste.

Large bead, measuring 1¹/₂ inch in diameter. The centre portion is formed of blue glass, of a ribbed pattern. The central perforation or opening is formed of a tube of bronze, and the edge of both sides of the perforation is ornamented by three minute bands of twisted yellow glass (Fig. 21).

Fig. 20.—Portion of Ring of Glass (¹/₂).

Fig. 21.—Bead

(length 1 inch, height 1¹/₄ inch).

Bead of earthenware, ³/₄ inch in diameter, of a ribbed pattern, and showing traces of green glaze (Fig. 22).

Small bead of vitreous paste, of a white colour with red spots, and measuring ¹/₂ inch in diameter (Fig. 23).

Fig. 23.—Bead. Fig. 22.—Bead. Fig. 24.—Bead.

(All actual size.)

Amber bead, ³/₄ inch in diameter.

Half of a small bead, measuring ³/₄ of an inch in diameter, of white glass streaked with blue (Fig. 24).

Small portion of blue glass.

Portion of a leather shoe, measuring 7 inches in length, and 3¹/₂ inches in its greatest breadth, nearly covered with ornamental stamped patterns (Fig. 25).

Fig. 25.—Portion of Shoe (length 7 inches).

Fig. 26.—Bronze Ornament (2 inches in diameter).

Besides the above list there were found five canoes, five quern-stones, and several whetstones.

On the 14th of March 1881, R. Vans Agnew, Esq. of Barnbarroch, presented to the Museum of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, a brooch or ornamental mounting of bronze, found in Dowalton Loch, Wigtownshire, of which Fig. 26 is a representation. It is ornamented with trumpet-shaped spaces, probably filled with enamel, and measures 2 inches in diameter. Mr. Vans Agnew gives the following account of the circumstances in which it was discovered:—"The bronze ornament or brooch was found last summer in the bed of the Loch of Dowalton by Master Alexander Gibson, grandson of Mr. Alexander Cumming, the venerable tenant of the farm of Stonehouse, on the shore of the lake. It was then seventeen years since the lake was drained. I have not been able to ascertain the exact spot where it was found, but it was not far from the site of some of the crannogs."[20]

Report on Osseous Remains.

The following is Professor Owen's report of the bones which were submitted to him for examination:—

"The bones and teeth from the lake-dwellings, submitted to my examination by Lord Lovaine, included parts of the ox, hog, and goat. The ox was of the size of the Bos longifrons, or Highland kyloe, and was represented by teeth, portions of the lower jaw, and some bones of the limbs and trunk. The remains of the sus were a lower jaw of a sow, of the size of the wild boar, and detached teeth. With the remains of the small ruminant, of the size of the sheep, was a portion of a cranium with the base of a horn core, more resembling in shape that of the he-goat. Not any of these remains had lost their animal matter.—R. O."

Loch Kielziebar, Argyllshire.

In December 1867 a paper, by the Rev. R. J. Mapleton, Corr. Mem. S. Ant. Scot., Kilmartin, was read at the meeting of the S. A. Scot., describing an artificial island in Loch Kielziebar, near the Crinan Canal. The author thus sums up his observations:—"Altogether, I think that it is evident that the crannog was entirely composed of rock and walling, with the middle part filled up with smaller stones: that there existed considerable works of wood on the east, south, and west sides, at least, but whether a rampart outside, or a building on the structure itself, is not quite clear; that there was a partial causeway, now under water, and the interval either filled in with brushwood, or passed over in a canoe."—(Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. vii. p. 322.)

In June of the following year Mr. Mapleton gives a description of stockaded remains discovered twelve years previously upon the partial drainage of a fresh-water loch at Arisaig, in the parish of Ardnamurchan, Inverness-shire. This loch was of an irregular oval form, and lay in a comparatively level tract of land, with very low braes at a short distance from its shores. It communicated with the sea by a small burn. The crannog was of a rectangular shape (43 by 41 feet), but owing to the surrounding mud it was impossible to ascertain how the foundation of the crannog had been formed. "Outside of the building is a range of sharpened posts, fixed in the bottom of the loch, and inclining inwards towards the crannog, leaving a space of about 3 feet of water between them and the building. These posts are beautifully pointed, being quite round towards the ends, as though made by small sharp instruments. We counted eight still standing on one side. The crannog appears to have been formed altogether of very large round logs, or rather of trees with the bark left on, and the side branches neatly cut off. They are of various lengths: one that we were able to measure being 29 feet long, and 5 feet in circumference, at about 2 feet above the base. Another log was closely fitted to this, so as to extend through the whole breadth of the building. The ends did not overlap, but had been neatly cut or worn off, so as to be placed quite close to each other.

"We tried to dig down into the structure, and found at least four layers of these large trunks placed very regularly across each other. We could not dig deeper, as the water began to ooze in; but by using a probe, we felt timbers at a depth of 8 feet below our digging. The wood is chiefly oak, but there are some logs of birch.... On the surface were several large flagstones, especially in three spots. These bore strong marks of fire, and the logs on which they rested were much charred. Beneath and around them we found charcoal, several small pieces of calcined bone, shells of hazel-nuts, and one very small chip of flint, together with several rough angular pieces of white quartz. At each of the four corners of the structure there were two sharpened stakes inclining towards each other and the building, leaving a small space between them; and at one end (viz. the south-east) there was one large log of oak 39 feet long, and 5 feet 6 inches in circumference at the base. Two great logs were nicely rounded off at the end, and a hollow was scooped out in the wood, about 2 or 3 inches deep, and 4 inches broad.

"Upon rowing up to the structure, when it first appeared above the surface of the falling water, the men first came to a kind of rampart, that ran on all the four sides, about 3 feet distant from the structure, and about 18 inches higher than the apparent level of the floor of the crannog. This was formed by large trees that were kept in their place by the upright sharpened posts, whose sharp points projected about 1 foot above the trees. The ends of these trees were scooped out in the same manner as the two that still remain; and they were firmly fixed in their places between the two sharpened posts at each corner, which fitted into the hollow made by the scooping. No signs of a causeway were observed, neither could we detect any symptom of one, though we carefully probed the mud all round. 'Lord Abinger informed me that when a loch on his property, Torlundie, Fort-William, was drained, there was a kind of structure with timbers in it, which were unfortunately scattered and destroyed, as Mr. Stuart had not then made known the existence of crannogs in Scotland, and drawn attention to them.'"—(Proceedings, vol. vii. p. 516.)

Artificial Islands in Mull.

In June 1870, the following note by Farquhard Campbell, Esq. of Aros, Mull, was read at the meeting of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.—(Proceedings, vol. viii. p. 465.)

"The loch called Na Mial, in English Of Deer, is about a mile south of Tobermory, and about 150 feet above the level of the sea, and 50 acres in extent. There was in the loch one of the artificial islands which are found in almost all the lochs of Mull. I drained the loch, which was only about 6 feet deep of water, blasting a passage through whinstone rock 20 feet deep. The mud under the water is of great depth. Of course, we had to make deep drains round the loch to catch the water. On coming with the drain to the edge of the loch, opposite this island, a large canoe was found 4 feet under the surface of the mud. The canoe was of black oak, 17 feet in length and 3¹/₂ feet beam, quite fresh and sound. Several canoes of a smaller size were also found, but near the surface of the mud, and in a half-decayed state. Three boats of modern clinker-built construction, of whose history none of the natives had any knowledge, were also found. I had the large canoe dug out of the mud and put into the sea, in order that, being saturated with salt water, it might be preserved from cracking. There is another loch on my property which has two of these artificial islands. The loch is large—about 1500 acres. I may also mention that, close to the site of the large canoe, I found a stone causeway laid upon oak-trees. This was at the same depth under the surface of the mud (viz., about 4 feet). This causeway led direct to the artificial island, which was formed of a quantity of loose stones, on the only rock near the surface of the water in the whole loch."

Lake-Dwellings of Ledaig and Lochnell, Argyllshire.

Dr. Angus Smith, F.R.S., in a communication to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 1871, describes, among other antiquities near Loch Etive, lake-dwellings at Ledaig and Lochnell, the former of which, notwithstanding the limited and inadequate inspection it has undergone, presents some features of interest, which the reader will find in the following extracts from Dr. Smith's report.—(Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. ix. pp. 93 and 105.)

"About one hundred and twenty years ago a company from England, engaged in working iron, had diverted a stream from this to the east, and made dry ground where was a lake.

"The space that called forth interest was scarcely distinguishable from the rest of the moss. A little attention, however, showed a depression. The whole was of a brownish-green colour, but in the middle of the depression, where had been the old lake, there was a part greener than the rest. It was of an oval form, about 50 feet long, and 28 feet broad. The outer part had a double row of tufts, as if two walls had existed. I expected piles at these places, but the whole was soft and consisted of turf only. On digging down, about 3¹/₂ feet, we came to wood, consisting of young trees from 6 to 8 inches in diameter, lying packed closely together. Under these there was another larger layer crossing, and under these again more. There seemed four all along the building. This was opened in three parts, and the same layers of wood were seen....

"At the east end of the oval was an elongation not surrounded by the turf mound. I believe the foundation extends along it. I suppose this to have been a platform before the door, a place for the inhabitants to sun themselves, and a landing and disembarking spot. (This platform was afterwards found to extend all round.)

"In the middle nearly, but a little to the westerly end, of the oval house was the fireplace. It is higher than the rest of the space. It was here that the bones were found, with shells and nuts. Under a few inches of a white powder is the hearth. It consists of four flattish stones; under the stones are to be found more peat ashes and some few remnants, but very few, of the substances connected with food. Under the ash was a floor of clay about 6 inches thick."

Fig. 27.—Wooden Comb (²/₃).

Dr. Smith, having resumed excavations here on a subsequent occasion, remarks (Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. x. p. 82): "A little more was exposed this year, and a third fireplace found at the north-western end. On each side, a little towards the front, was a raised seat. This was a bank of earth on which were placed flattish stones. These were the arm-chairs of the inhabitants. Amongst the rubbish outside the wall were found two or three piles, the meaning of which is not yet made out. Two broken combs made of wood were obtained, one of which is shown in the annexed woodcut (Fig. 27).

"A piece of wood with a cross burnt on it caused a good deal of interest. This kind of cross is not uncommon in the older Irish forms. It is a Greek cross with crosslets, and has been imagined to indicate a time before the Latin Church entered."

A small island in Lochnell is supposed by Dr. Smith, after a slight examination, to be another lake-dwelling.

Crannogs in Wigtownshire.

In the same year (1871), the Rev. George Wilson, Glenluce, contributed a paper to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (Proceedings, vol. ix. p. 368), on the Crannogs and Lake-Dwellings in Wigtownshire, from which it would appear that all the lakes in this locality were once literally studded with these island habitations. He enumerates no less than ten lakes, each of which contained one or more crannogs. The abundant remains of stakes, mortised beams, and the occasional discovery of a "paved ford" connecting the islands with the shore, sufficiently indicate their structural formation; but beyond this, and the important fact of their existence in such numbers in the district, they present nothing of a novel or special character calling for a more detailed notice here. (See tabular statement, p. 245.)

Fig. 28.—Stone Ring (¹/₁).

The relics from the Wigtownshire crannogs, besides those already noticed from Dowalton, are not many. They are two granite querns found near a stone causeway leading to the crannog, a stone ring, ³/₄ inch internal diameter (Fig. 28), and a spindle-whorl of clay slate, 2 inches in diameter, from a crannog in Barlockhart Loch.—(Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. iii., new series, p. 267, and vol. xi. p. 583.)

Fig. 29.—Stone Implement (¹/₂).

Regarding stone implements, with circular central hollows wrought on each face, one of which (Fig. 29) was found on a crannog in Machermore Loch, Mr. Wilson writes thus:[21]—"These are of two types, elongated and oval, approaching a circular form, and I wish to direct attention to them, because, as yet, only eight have been reported in Scotland, seven of them being from Wigtownshire."

On a later occasion, June 15th, 1881, Mr. Wilson, writing on the same subject, says:—"In the volume of the Proceedings for 1879-80, at pages 127-129, I have described seven of these stones, and have stated that only one specimen has been reported from any other part of Scotland. I now direct attention to eleven more from Glenluce and Stony Kirk added to the Museum, making eighteen from Wigtownshire."[22] (See notice of another, found on the crannog in Lochspouts, at page 173.)

One of the crannogs referred to by Mr. Wilson, viz., that in "Loch Inch-Cryndil," or Black Loch, was about the same time subjected to a careful examination, a report of which was drawn up by Charles E. Dalrymple, Esq., F.S.A. Scot. (Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. ix. p. 388), from which I quote the following illustrative extracts:—

"The island is oval in shape, 180 feet long, and 135 feet broad in the widest part. It has tolerably deep water round it, excepting towards the nearest shore, a distance of about one hundred yards, where, in dry seasons, it does not exceed 6 or 7 feet....

"In the middle of the island, which is thickly covered with trees of thirty or forty years' growth, but with a few much older toward the south end, a circular mound appeared, resembling a low tumulus, 45 feet in diameter, rising in the centre to about 3¹/₂ feet in height, round the edges of which there were, in some parts, traces of a low wall of three or four courses of small stones, like a miniature dike. The island rises gradually from the water to the base of the mound, which at that season (the beginning of October) was about 18 inches above it, so that the top of the mound, which was the highest part of the island, was then about 5 feet above the loch. Spacious cuttings were made in the centre, afterwards extended to the edge of the mound in various directions, with the following results:—The island proved to have been a crannog, formed apparently on a shoal in the lake, composed of shingle over blue clay, the object having obviously been to raise a platform which would be above the water even when the lake was at its fullest, as, even at the present time, there is a considerable rise in the wet months, although pains are taken to keep clear the outfall from the loch. The mound was found to be of earth and stones mixed, extending beneath which, at a depth of 5 feet in the centre, but decreasing in depth towards the edge, was found a flooring of trunks of trees, oak and alder, in two layers, crossing each other at right angles in some places, in others lying rather confusedly. These were mostly not more than 6 or 8 inches in diameter, but one solitary trunk of an oak, near the centre, lying at a higher level, and possibly the remains of a hut or other superstructure, was fully two feet in diameter, although much decayed. These layers of wood were traced as having covered a circular space about fifty feet in diameter, thus agreeing nearly with the size as well as the shape of the mound.... The extent of the mound would appear to have been that of the crannog proper, but the existence of a solitary oak pile, 50 feet from it, on the weather side of the island, makes it probable that either a breakwater had been placed there, as was also supposed to be the case in Dowalton Loch, or a 'chevaux-de-frise' of sharp-pointed stakes for defence.

"At different levels, from that of a few inches above the timber flooring to 3 feet higher, and over the whole mound, were found many fireplaces, one or two covered over with two long stones, leaning against each other lengthways, like the roof of a house, but most of them formed by placing two long narrow stones (fragments of the rock of the district, which breaks off easily in that form) parallel with each other, leaving a space between, which was paved with small stones and formed a hearth. Large quantities of bones of animals, mostly more or less burnt, and, whether flat or round bones, frequently split, were found mixed with the ashes and charcoal which lay in and around these hearths, in some places extending over wide spaces, which were marked, also, by masses of burnt yellow clay."

At different levels, in different parts of the mound, were found the following objects,[23] the description of which I take from Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. ix. p. 381:—

Double-margined comb of bone, imperfect, 2³/₄ inches across, formed of separate pieces, enclosed between two transverse slips of bone, fastened with three iron rivets, and ornamented with a central row of dots and circles, and two similar rows at the side of the cross piece, having a running scroll pattern connecting them. A zigzag ornament forms a band across the end (Fig. 30).

Fig. 30.—Bone Comb (¹/₁).

A flat loop of bronze, 1¹/₄ inch in diameter.

Part of the rim of a large vessel of cast bronze, 3 inches in length.

Portion of an armlet, of greenish glass, with a blue and white twisted cable ornament running round it.

Copper coin much defaced.

Copper bodle of Charles II.[24]

Crannog at Tolsta, Lewis (1874).

The following account of a crannog is from a letter by Peter Liddle, Esq., to the secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (Proceedings, vol. x. p. 741):—

"In a lake recently drained at Tolsta, I have examined a crannog which seems to me to possess some interest. A drain has been cut through part of the crannog, which affords a section of its construction. At the outside there is a row of piles 5 or 6 inches diameter, then large stones, then another row of piles, then heather and moss—the whole covered with earth and gravel. The remains of three houses built of unhewn stones are still visible upon it. All round the crannog, but inside the outer row of piles, there is an immense quantity of shells, plentifully intermixed with bones, ashes, and twigs of trees. The shells are those of the ordinary edible shell-fish, the mussel being the most common. The bones are chiefly those of deer, and the small Highland sheep still found on the island. The only implement I found was part of a stag's horn, with the brow-antler thinned. Three hollowed stone vessels or knocking-stones were found on the surface, but they were destroyed or lost sight of. A causeway of large stones under water led to the crannog."

Fig 31.—Canoe found in Loch Arthur.

Loch Lotus, Kirkcudbrightshire.

During the summer of 1874, a canoe (Fig. 31) was discovered in Loch Arthur, or Lotus Loch, in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, in the vicinity of a small artificial island which is thus described by Rev. James Gillespie (Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. xi. p. 21): "When fully exposed to view by the trench which was dug around it, the canoe was seen to be of great size, ornately finished, and in a fair state of preservation. It had been hollowed out of the trunk of an oak, which must have been a patriarch of the forest, the extreme length of the canoe being 45 feet, and the breadth at the stern 5 feet. The boat gradually tapers from the stern to the prow, which ends in a remarkable prolongation resembling the outstretched neck and head of an animal. When excavated this portion of the canoe was entire. At the neck of the figure-head, there is a circular hole about 5 inches in diameter from side to side. At the prow a small flight of steps has been carved in the solid oak from the top to the bottom of the canoe. The stern is square, and formed of a separate piece of wood, inserted in a groove about an inch and a half from the extremity of the canoe. The stern-board board when found was in a fragmentary condition, so that it is impossible to say whether it consisted of one or several planks.

"Along the starboard side (which when found was in good preservation except near the stern), there could be traced seven holes about 3 inches in diameter. The three front holes were nearly perfect, but at the stern the side was so broken that only the lower parts of the holes could be observed. They are about 5 feet apart, and the front hole is about that distance from the prow—the last being about 7 feet from the stern. There are three holes pierced through the bottom at irregular intervals.

"In connection with the discovery of this canoe, it is worthy of remark, that on the opposite side of the lake, between three and four hundred yards from the spot where the canoe was found, there is a small circular island which is evidently artificial. It is about 100 feet in diameter, and is approached by a stone causeway about 30 yards long, which was laid bare last summer by the lowness of the lake. The artificial nature of the island may be seen by the remains of the oaken piles driven in in rows, with horizontal beams between, which can still be traced in the water round the north-east and south sides. The lines of two small enclosures can be followed on the south side of the island.

"No excavations have yet been made on the island, but ashes and other signs of fire were found many years ago."

Crannog in the Loch of Kilbirnie, Ayrshire.

At the meeting of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in June 1875, Robert Love, Esq., F.S.A. Scot., gave a description of a crannog in the loch of Kilbirnie, of which the following is a condensed account.—(Proceedings, vol. xi. p. 284.)

"There was a little island in the upper end, and near the north-west corner of this loch; and most who knew it when entire, 50 or 60 years ago, are agreed that it was essentially circular, although some little pointed towards the south. It was elevated, at least in modern times, above the water of the loch in its ordinary state, from 2 to 4 feet; and on the surface was entirely overlaid with stones of the boulder sort, not large, and which might have been got on the margin of the lake. Some say that beams or logs, and piles of wood were noticed during protracted droughts on or along the margin of the island, but if they were, it notwithstanding never occurred to any one that the island was other than natural. In the summer of 1868, however, its artificial nature became quite evident. This was occasioned in consequence of the slag from the furnaces having been for several years, and in great bulk, deposited within the loch to the west of and behind this island, which sunk down through the soft yielding mud deposit there, which is of the great depth of 30 or 40 feet, a fact that was ascertained by borings near the site of the furnaces. This had the effect, while it overlay and bore down that part of the island which is towards the west, of moving the east portion of it forward and into the loch, and, at the same time, of upheaving it so that it was elevated considerably above the water. In consequence, this part spread hither and thither and split up; many fissures were the result, both in the artificial deposits and in the underlying mud, which were of a depth that varied from 4 to 6 feet; and it was by means of these that the various artificial strata became disclosed.

"It has been said that the surface of the island throughout was overlaid or paved with stones. The depth of these was not great, possibly not more than from 1 to 2 feet, there not being in any part that became visible more than two courses. Wood ashes were discovered on the surface—a portion being also found a little below, and some of the stones at one part, in particular the fragments of a sandstone flag, bore distinct evidence of the action of fire; and it was supposed that this flag might have been the hearth of some structure reared on the surface. These stones are to be held as the uppermost artificial stratum. The next in descent was a layer of large coarse water-borne gravel mixed with finer sand, which was of the depth of from 18 inches to 2 feet. The third layer was brushwood, boughs of trees, among which the hazel predominated, ferns, etc. etc., but the whole was so compressed as not to manifest a greater depth than about 6 inches. The fourth layer was beams or logs of wood, some of which were nearly 2 feet in diameter, although the greater number was less. These seemed laid down horizontally, and so as to cross or intersect each other, similar to a raft of wood; some of them showed that they had been mortised or checked into each other, or into vertical piles, and that the tenons when inserted had been fastened by wooden pins, and in one or two instances by large iron nails.

"The whole of this wood-work, however, when exposed, was in a greatly disturbed and loosened condition from the movement and upheaval of the structure; and, in consequence, what space in depth these cross-beams occupied was not ascertainable. Then the fifth and lowest stratum was the underlying mud, which was fine, pure, and free of stones, and not at all like boulder clay. Besides, there was manifested as having been planted on the surface, one if not more wooden structures, houses or huts they might be, small in size, and one of which at least was in the form of a parallelogram, having been constructed of small round posts of wood used in forming the sides and ends. How it had been roofed did not appear. There were seen also bits of bone, as those of birds, as well as a few teeth, similar to those of the cow or ox. Trees, for the most part of a low stature, were over all parts, as well as reeds and other coarse grasses which sprang up between the stones on the surface.

"Then as regards the margin of this island, it appeared to have been palisaded; at least this was the case on its north-east side—that which only was visible. The piles used for this purpose were apparently of oak, and not great in girth; they were driven down into the mud bank as the foundation; and on these, as well as upon the beams, the cutting of an edged tool, not a saw, was quite distinct. Within these vertically placed piles, and resting on the surface, stones, it is said, were placed, which was the case more certainly around the whole margin. It is also said that stones were even placed outside of these piles, in a row, and on the very margin; but it is only probable that outwith this row there had been an outer course of piles, by means of which the stones were kept in position, but which, from weathering, had gone into complete decay.

"It is known that this island was approachable by means of a kind of stone causeway which led from the north-west margin of the lake. According to the report of those who saw it often, it was only of the breadth of 2 or 3 feet, and was never visible above the water of the loch, which on either side is said to have been 6 or 7 feet in depth. It is not said that this causeway was protected or fortified in any way by piling. It was near the south end of this causeway, along the north-east margin of the island, that in 1868 several canoes or boats, as many it was believed as four, in a less or more entire condition, were discovered. Only one of these, however, when found, was partly entire, and it even wanted some 2 feet at the bow to render it complete. But as this canoe, formed out of a single tree, and the bronze utensils which were found imbedded in mud within it, have been well described in Mr. Cochran-Patrick's paper, printed in the Society's Proceedings (vol. ix. 385), none of these need now be referred to, further than to say that the pot, the repair or clouting of which was with iron, is not by any means uncommon in shape."

Fig. 32.—Lion Ewer, the property of W. J. Armstrong, Esq., found in a canoe in the bottom of the Loch of Kilbirnie

(8¹/₂ inches high).

The following is an extract from Mr. Cochran-Patrick's description of these relics, above referred to:—

"The canoe was discovered lying about 20 feet north of a small artificial island—itself an object of great interest, but now unfortunately overwhelmed by the advance of the iron-stone rubbish at the south-western end of the loch. It was hollowed out of a single tree, and was about 18 feet in length, 3 feet in breadth, and close on 2 feet in depth. It was broadest at the stern, which was square, and tapered towards the bow, and was entire, with the exception of about 2 feet broken off the narrowest end. There were indications that a hole in the bottom had been mended, and some wooden pins were in it which may have been used for this purpose, or for fixing at the side what is described to me as a sort of bracket. In the mud which filled the hollow of the canoe were found a lion-shaped ewer (Fig. 32) and a three-legged pot, both made of bronze, and also a thin plate or piece of metal which cannot now be recovered.

"The 'lion' stands 8¹/₂ inches from the ground at the highest part, is 8 inches in length and 8¹/₂ in girth round the body, and weighs 4 lbs. It is made of a yellowish bronze, and seems to have been used for holding liquid. It bears a striking resemblance, though smaller and less ornamented, to one figured and described at p. 556 of Wilson's Prehistoric Annals of Scotland (edition 1851). It will be observed that the one now shown wants the curious ornament projecting from the breast, though the place where it has been inserted is quite apparent. The bronze pot is 11 inches across the mouth, stands 14 inches high, and weighs 28 lbs. It resembles what are often called Roman camp-kettles. There are indications of its having been ingeniously mended."

General Remarks.

This concludes a brief historical and descriptive sketch of ancient lake-dwellings, as known in Scotland previous to the excavation of the Lochlee Crannog in 1878-9, a full report of which will be found in the next chapter. From this sketch it will be seen that, during the interval between the publication of Dr. Stuart's paper in 1866 and the above date, if we except the occasional notice of the discovery of a new site, comparatively little has been done by way of furthering the systematic exploration of their widely-scattered remains. With the formation, however, of the Ayrshire and Wigtownshire ArchÆological Association, a new epoch in antiquarian research may be said to have dawned on the south-west of Scotland. One of the features of this Association is the prominence given to practical explorations as a means of investigating the prehistoric remains of the district, the beneficial result of which may be estimated by the fact, that, with a trifling exception, all the discoveries recorded and illustrated in the following pages are due to its inspiration, and have actually appeared, in the first instance, in its publications. These, however, constitute but a small part of the investigations conducted under the guidance and auspices of this most active Association.

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