SUBSEQUENT RESEARCHES AND DISCOVERIES AT FRIARS' CARSE, LOCHSPOUTS, BARHAPPLE, AND BUSTON.

Before the interesting series of objects obtained from the excavation of the Lochlee crannog, and described in the previous chapter, could be properly illustrated and efficiently brought under the notice of antiquaries, other promising "finds" of a similar nature were announced from various quarters. All these have now, as far as practicable, been carefully investigated, with results, in some respects, even more remarkable than the former. To a description of these further excavations and discoveries I propose to devote this chapter, commencing with that of a lake-dwelling at Friars' Carse, in Dumfriesshire, and following it up by others in the order of their discovery.

Section I.

Notes of a Crannog at Friars' Carse, Dumfriesshire.

Early in the summer of 1879 I was informed that, during the autumn of the preceding year, a lake-dwelling had been exposed in a small loch at Friars' Carse, Dumfriesshire, and being then engaged in drawing up a report of the excavations made at Lochlee, I was anxious to have an opportunity of comparing the results obtained from the former with those of the latter. This opportunity was afforded me by the Rev. Mr. Landsborough, who, being also interested in such discoveries, made arrangements with his friend, Dr. Grierson of Thornhill, to conduct us to Friars' Carse. After inspecting a canoe, some fragments of pottery, and a few other things from this crannog, then deposited in Dr. Grierson's museum, we drove off to inspect the structure itself. Its site was a small pear-shaped basin situated behind a wooded knoll, close to the Parliamentary road to Dumfries, and in the midst of a well-cultivated but singularly undulating district. By deepening the outlet of this lake to the extent of 2 feet, a partial drainage was effected, which reduced its area from 10 to 3 acres. It was then that it became generally known that a small bushy island near the middle of the loch had been artificially constructed of oak logs and trunks of trees. As the weather was dry for some weeks previous to our visit, and the water particularly low, we readily stepped on to the island, over what appeared to have been the old bed of the lake, then presenting a hard, crisp, and dried-up surface of aquatic plants. The island was nearly circular in shape, strongly built, and surrounded by piles, some of which, however, were only visible through the water. The log pavement, which by this time had been completely bared, was composed of parallel beams of oak, apparently arranged in groups, lying in various directions, and firmly united together by the overlapping and sometimes mortising of their ends. Its level was from 1 to 2 feet above that of the water, but at the margin of the island there was a large quantity of stones, especially on its north side, i.e. the side towards the deepest portion of the lake, and most distant from the outlet. Through these stones, which shelved under the water, a few heads of the surrounding piles projected, some of which were also visible above the water. Some mortised holes were here and there to be seen in the horizontal beams, but there was no trace of a raised breastwork surrounding the wooden pavement—thus differing in this respect from the crannog at Lochlee, and agreeing with that at Lochspouts. In the centre were a few ends of uprights, in rectangular rows, seemingly the remains of partitions, one of which I traced for 40 feet in a straight line.

Upon inquiring where the rubbish removed from the island was located, we were informed that it had been wheeled to the west side of the crannog, and heaped up just close to where we had stepped across to the island. Here it lay for some days; but one morning, to the great astonishment of the workmen, it was found to have entirely disappeared. Upon examination, it turned out that the apparently dry land was a matted crust of mud and roots of aquatic plants, which virtually floated over the water, and suddenly gave way under the accumulated weight, and so buried the whole mass in the water beneath. With this singular and unfortunate catastrophe terminated all further prospects of finding relics.

My examination of the crannog was then of a very limited character, and hence, when I came to require more definite information, I found it necessary to revisit the locality. This visit took place so recently as the 31st January 1882, and, although a day by no means suitable for such investigations, I am glad to say that through the courtesy and kindness of the proprietor, Thomas Nelson, Esq., who was personally conversant with the drainage operations, and took much interest in the Lake-Dwelling, the following additional details were procured:—

The island is slightly oval in shape, and, including the partially submerged zone in which the piles were noticed, measures 80 by 70 feet. Near its centre the dÉbris was from 2 to 3 feet thick, and formed a sort of mound containing ashes, charcoal, and some bones. Here the fragments of pottery afterwards described were found.

A circular portion of the log pavement, near the centre, was covered with small stones as if to protect it from fire; also some remains of clay flooring were observed in other parts of the island.

Regarding the deeper structures little can be said. Mr. Nelson attempted to cut a hole through the timber, and, as far as the water allowed the men to penetrate, he saw nothing but layer upon layer of oak beams lying transversely upon each other. Judging, however, from the solidity and firmness of the island, the great size of some of the logs, and the depth of the loch (still about 12 feet a little to the west of the island), the total thickness of this immense mass of timber cannot, I should say, be less than 12 or 16 feet.

Mr. Nelson has directed my attention to the following notice of this island in the Antiquities of Scotland, by Grose, vol. i. p. 146.

Friars' Carse, in Nithsdale.

"Here was a cell dependent on the rich abbey of Melrose, which, at the Reformation, was granted by the Commendator to the Laird of Elliesland, a cadet of the Kirkpatricks of Closeburne. From whom it passed to the Maxwells of Tinwald, and from them to the Barncleugh family, also cadets of the Lords of Maxwell. From whom it went to the Riddells, of Glenriddell, the present possessors. The old refectory, or dining-room, had walls 8 feet thick, and the chimney was 12 feet wide. This old building having become ruinous, was pulled down in 1773, to make way for the present house.

"Near the house was the Lough, which was the fish-pond of the friary. In the middle of which is a very curious artificial island, founded upon large piles and planks of oak, where the monks lodged their valuable effects when the English made an inroad into Strathnith."

From the above quotation it would appear that this structure has not ceased to be an island by becoming submerged, like most of the other lake-dwellings hitherto noticed. The surface of the log pavement is at present about 18 inches above the water-level, so that, before the recent drainage, it would be 6 inches below it, but, originally, it must have been 3 or 4 feet above the ordinary level of the loch. Hence, on the supposition that no great alteration was made on the lake area by former cuttings, the maximum amount of subsidence would not be more than 5 feet.

Canoe.—About 60 yards from the island, while making the cut for drainage, a canoe was found, "deeply imbedded" in the mud (about 4 feet). It now lies in Dr. Grierson's museum at Thornhill, but it has become so shrivelled and distorted that it would be difficult to recognise it as a dug-out canoe. From Dr. Grierson's description of it, shortly after discovery, it appears to have been 22 feet long and 2 feet 10 inches broad. The prow was the root end of the tree, and tapered to a point, but the stern, which was squarely cut, was closed by a flat sternpiece fitting into a groove.

A neatly formed paddle was found on the west side of the loch. Its length is 3 feet 10 inches, of which the blade takes up 1 foot 6 inches by 5 inches broad.

The ponderous axe hammer-head here figured (Fig. 159), was found on the west side of the loch along with the paddle. "It was about 2 feet below the present surface, and about 30 yards from the island, at a place where the ground was firmer and might have been a landing-place from the island." It is made of hard whinstone, and measures 10 inches in length, 5 inches in breadth, and a shade less than 3 inches in depth. It is perforated by a round shaft-hole, 2 inches in diameter, but tapers slightly from both surfaces to the middle.

Pottery.—Two handles of jars with a yellowish glaze, inclining in some parts to a green and in others to a reddish-brown colour.

Two fragments of a large dish were ornamented by a series of little pits regularly grouped together in the form of bands as represented in Figs. 160 and 161. These bands were formed of three parallel rows of pits, which in the larger fragment radiated from the base upwards at a distance of about an inch, but became a little wider at the bulge of the dish. The other fragment (Fig. 161) is too small to indicate the direction of the pitted rows, but the band is decidedly raised above the general surface of the vessel—a feature which is only partially noticeable in the former, just at the upper termination of the rows. The little indentations are irregularly shaped, but, from a repetition of the same peculiarities in their form in each row, it is clear that they were made by a small trident-like implement.

All these fragments of pottery were made of a fine reddish clay, mixed with coarse sand or small quartz pebbles.

The only other relics were a circular stone polisher, 2¹/₂ inches in diameter, and an oval-shaped mass of vitreous paste.

Section II.

Notice of the Excavation of a Crannog at Lochspouts, near Kilkerran.

Situation of Crannog.—Lochspouts is situated about three miles to the south-west of Maybole, in the parish of Kirkoswald, and on the property of the Right Honourable Sir James Fergusson, of Kilkerran, Bart., K.C.M.G., LL.D. It is a small lake basin, somewhat oval in shape, and ensconced at the base of hilly ground, which encompasses it, except towards the north, where a narrow trap-dike runs across and cuts it off from the open valley beyond. It is thus a natural dam, formed in the face of a declivity, which, beyond the trap ridge, still continues to slope rapidly downwards for a few hundred yards. No outlet could therefore at any time exist, except along this barrier, and an inspection of its present condition reveals several deep gashes, through which at one time the surplus water made its escape. Indeed, some of the oldest inhabitants state that the name "Lochspouts" was given to it because, in former times, during heavy floods, its waters spouted across this ridge at different points. The truth of this traditional report is not only consistent with the physical and geological features of the locality, but supplies a good illustration of the natural process by which running streams are occasionally known to cut out new channels, and ultimately abandon their former beds altogether. Owing to the large amount of silt washed into this basin, and the gradual lowering of its outlet by the frictional erosion of the surplus water, the area of the lake must also have been gradually diminished, so that it is difficult to estimate its original size. Immediately prior, however, to human interference with the rocky barrier, it would not be more than eight acres. This singular and, when surrounded by primeval forests, secluded little lake, was selected by the ancient crannog-builders as a suitable site for building one of their characteristic island dwellings, the remains of which have only been recently discovered. The starting-point of the investigations now about to be recorded was the following letter:—

"Inland Revenue Office,
Campbelton, 8th October 1879.

"To the Right Honourable
Sir James Fergusson, Bart.

"Sir,—Would you permit me, a perfect stranger, to bring under your notice the circumstance that at Lochspoots, on your estate, there are the remains of an ancient lake-dwelling, which do not appear to have been ever examined.

"Lochspoots was formerly of some depth, but within the lifetime of old people the lip of rock which forms its lower rim was cut with the view of utilising the water of the lake for the purposes of a walk-mill. This operation probably reduced the level about 10 feet, and must have brought the bottom of the shallower parts to the surface.

"When on a visit a few years ago to my brother, who is tenant of this farm, I noticed a mound which I suspected to be the site of an old lake-dwelling, and on digging into it my suspicion was confirmed. My exploration was of the most limited kind; still I found a bronze armlet—the metal almost all oxidised—two sling-stones, and two pieces of colouring matter, the one red and the other black. I also ascertained that in cutting a drain a canoe had been dug out of the moss and clay; and on making further inquiry I found it in possession of the previous tenant. I did not measure it, but it appeared small, and to agree with the published accounts of the ruder forms of the canoes found in the Clyde beds.

"As the mound rises above the level of the water, it could be partially examined without much labour or expense; but as the lake water soon finds its way into holes of any depth, no proper or systematic examination could be made without cutting deeper into the ledge of rock that forms the embankment. The rock has already been cut to a depth of 12 or 15 feet, and a few feet more would probably reduce the level below the upper surface of the virgin clay. Fortunately none of the streams that drain into the lake are near the spot, and consequently only a thin covering of lacustrine clay has been deposited over the dÉbris.—I most respectfully remain, sir, your most obedient and humble servant, James MacFadzean."

Sir James Fergusson at once forwarded this interesting letter to R. W. Cochran-Patrick, Esq., LL.D., F.S.A., secretary to the Ayrshire and Wigtownshire ArchÆological Association, with a note requesting him to visit and examine the locality here referred to at his convenience. From letters now before me I find that this preliminary examination of the crannog took place on the 10th of the following November, the result of which was shortly afterwards communicated to me just at the same time that I had received for final revision the proof-sheets of the first article on the Ayrshire crannogs, and so I took the opportunity of recording the discovery by appending a foot-note embracing Mr. Cochran-Patrick's observations. See page 23 of the second volume of the collections of the Ayrshire and Wigtownshire ArchÆological Association.[31]

The time of the year being unsuitable for making an examination of the crannog, owing to the wetness of the locality, it was agreed to postpone further explorations till the following summer.

Meantime the appointment of Sir James Fergusson as Governor of Bombay, and the subsequent return of Mr. Cochran-Patrick as M.P. for North Ayrshire, entirely precluded both these gentlemen from giving their personal attention to the proposed investigations, in which they were so highly interested; and hence the carrying out of them, when a favourable opportunity should occur, was intrusted to me.

Investigations.—It was not till the 28th June 1880 that the weather permitted the work of excavating the mound to be begun, which, however, was then continued regularly during the greater part of the month of July, under the most favourable circumstances. A long course of dry weather made the ground exceptionally suitable for digging; the workmen, with the intelligent forester, Mr. Hopson, at their head, were skilful and thoroughly interested in the investigations; and as to the general management, not only had we the benefit of the able and obliging assistance of Mr. Baxter, factor on the Kilkerran estate, but also the occasional presence and advice of several members of the Council of this Society, among whom were R. W. Cochran-Patrick, Esq., M.P., Sir W. J. M. Cuninghame, Bart., of Corsehill, Colonel Hunter-Weston of Hunterston, J. H. Stoddart, Esq., Glasgow Herald, etc. I have specially to mention Dr. Macdonald, rector of the Ayr Academy, who for several days took the entire supervision of the works and finds. It will be thus seen that the materials of this report are the joint contributions of various hands and various minds, so that the individuality which the writing of it confers upon me must be largely discounted.

Upon my first visit to Lochspouts, I was struck with the smallness of its dimensions; its superficies, according to measurements kindly made by Mr. Brown, clerk to Mr. Baxter, being only 2 acres. Its margin, and indeed its whole area, were thickly covered with long grasses and rushes. On its north side, near the middle portion of the rocky ridge, and a little to the west of the outlet, lay the remains of the crannog, a low circular mound overgrown with coarse grass, and so close to the present margin of the lake that it formed a peninsula easily approached by terra firma. I understand, however, that when Mr. Cochran-Patrick visited it in the previous October, the neck of land, now dry, was so soft and boggy that it was with difficulty he got across to the mound.

These observations will be more clearly comprehended by a reference to the accompanying sketch (Frontispiece), taken by a young artist, Mr. J. Lawson, when the explorations were nearly completed. The view is looking northwards. In the foreground are the marshy loch and crannog (the overlying mound being now nearly cleared away), then the rocky ridge extending right and left, behind which is the open valley, with the hill Culdoon, and monument to the late Sir Charles Dalrymple Fergusson in the distance. Along this ridge are seen several hollows, which are supposed to have been formerly outlets; the original or primary one being at the extreme right, while about the middle, and almost in a line with the crannog, is the artificial cutting which forms the present outlet.

Previous to my visit there were no piles detected on the mound, but after a considerable amount of searching the tops of one or two were observed on its east side, at the bottom of a sluggish channel kept open by the surplus water making its way to the outlet. Guided by these indications and a few trials with the spade, the tops of others were exposed, so that in a short time half the circle was thus traced. After due deliberation, in consultation with Mr. Baxter, who, on behalf of the proprietor, supplied the men and the labouring materials, it was agreed that the only exploration that could then be made, without further cutting of the rock (an undertaking which would involve a large amount of expense), was to clear away the entire mound down to the level of the water. Accordingly, the men were directed to make a broad trench, running east and west, the stuff from which was to be removed in layers, so as to localise, as far as possible, any remains that might be found. When this was finished, another similar trench was made at right angles to the former, after which the four remaining angular portions were removed. In the course of these excavations the following facts regarding the structure and surroundings of the crannog were ascertained:—

1. Log Pavement.—About 5 feet deep (measuring from centre of mound), and only a few inches above the level of surrounding water, there was exposed a rude, imperfect, and irregularly-shaped wooden pavement, formed of flattened oak beams. It covered only the central portion of the area contained within the circle of piles, the rest of which was laid with branches and stems of trees. Near the surrounding piles, on the east side, a more carefully constructed arrangement of this wood-work was noticed, consisting of slanting stakes and horizontal beams of various sizes, forming a sort of reticulated and firm flooring, which sloped slightly downwards towards the piles. A similar disposition of the marginal wood-work was noticed elsewhere, especially on the north-west side, in a line with the gangway to be afterwards described; but on the lake side of the crannog the exact mode of its structure was not practically exposed to view, owing to its shelving below the water, but the presumption is that it was pretty much the same all round. On digging beneath this log pavement large beams and brushwood were generally encountered, but the voluminous gushing up of water prevented reliable observations from being made regarding these deeper structures. Occasionally ashes and charcoal were turned up, and in one spot, near the centre, and under my own inspection, the men succeeded in digging downwards more than 2 feet below the log pavement before the water oozed up, in the course of which nothing was turned out but pure ashes, bits of charcoal, and large quantities of the shells of limpets and common wilks. At the bottom of this hole were solid oak beams, apparently flattened; but no sooner were their surfaces exposed than the water rushed in and filled the trench. This gave rise to the conjecture that this under-stratum of remains represented another, and of course an older, period of human occupancy, which also derived some support from the fact that the surface of the log pavement was on a higher level than the tops of the encircling piles. It occurred to me, however, that it was a prepared cavity, and originally intended for the purpose for which it was evidently used, viz. an ashpit; and hence, from want of corroborative evidence, the conjecture that the log pavement is a secondary one, and superimposed on the dÉbris of a former dwelling, must for the present remain sub judice. Although portions of mortised beams were in several instances met with, there were no remains found of a circle of stockades having transverse beams, and raised above the log flooring, as was the case at the Lochlee crannog. Had such a structure existed, it would have been removed in all likelihood when the lake was lowered, as the whole wood-work would have been exposed to view. The diameter of the crannog, i.e. of the circular area enclosed within the submerged piles, was about 95 feet. No further attempt was made to examine the marginal structure of the island owing to its submerged condition; but the probability is, judging from analogy and the certainty of one circle of piles, that an outer circle exists, with which the former is connected by the usual type of mortised beams.

2. Hearths.—Above the log pavement, and a few yards apart from each other, were three circular hearths, each about 5 feet in diameter, formed of flat stones imbedded in a bed of yellow clay, and raised on a sort of pedestal of clay and stones, which varied in thickness from 1 to 1¹/₂ foot. One of them, on being demolished, was found to have been built directly over a former stony hearth, with an interval of about a foot. The stuff immediately surrounding them consisted of alternate layers of clay and ashes; and from the number of such layers, indicating collectively a considerable thickness—in one place over 3 feet—it appeared to me that the position of these hearths could not be taken as a criterion of the length of occupancy in the same way as the superimposed series at Lochlee, inasmuch as abundant evidence of the remains of fires were found where no neatly constructed hearth was observed. As will be seen from a glance at the sketch of Lochspouts (see the Frontispiece), they were all situated near the centre of the crannog, but on its southern half, i.e. the semicircle farthest from the shore.

3. Gangway.—On making a few trial trenches in the space directly between the shore and the crannog in search of a gangway, we could find no indications of wood-work. One day, however, my attention was directed to a portion of the log pavement which looked like a wooden roadway projecting to the margin of the island, and pointing in a north-western direction, towards a prominence in the trap ridge. Observing, also, that before the lake was lowered this prominence would be the nearest land to the crannog, it immediately struck me that if there was a gangway at all it would be found along this line. Hypothesis was right this time. The adhesive nature of the lake sediment prevented the water from oozing up so quickly as it did on the crannog, so that we were enabled to expose the wood-work several feet below the level of the lake. Close to the crannog the upper beams of the gangway were about 3 feet below the surface of the grass, and fully more below that of the log pavement; but as we neared the shore with the digging they became less buried, and some of the uprights were found even projecting above the ground.

The general plan on which this gangway was constructed appeared to be identical with that adopted by the crannog-builders of Lochlee. Upright piles, singly and in groups, were placed in a zigzag fashion, between which the horizontal beams stretched, fan-like, and so formed a sort of lattice-work, with empty lozenge-shaped spaces between. From one of these holes or meshes, some 5 feet below the surface of the ground, a fine granite quern-stone was extracted. The piles projected some 2 feet or more above the body of the gangway, but there was no appearance of the remains of a platform. The depth of the lower portion of the gangway could not be reached. It would thus appear that at least the transverse beams of the gangway were originally under water—a remark equally applicable to that at Lochlee; and it is highly probable that the primary purpose of this so-called gangway was to supply, on emergencies, a means of secret access to the crannog.

4. Composition of Mound.—The surface of the mound was composed of coarse grass, having tough matted roots spreading in a thin layer of soil, which overlay about a foot and a half of stones and rubbish, in which no relics were found. Below this the materials were of a very variable character; sometimes vegetable mould, stems of grasses jointed like straw, and beds of heather and moss, which could readily be separated into layers; and at other times heaps of ashes and charcoal mixed with quantities of the shells of wilks, limpets, and hazel-nuts. Intermingled with this heterogeneous mass were large and small stones, broken bones, portions of deer horns, and the relics to be afterwards described. Though one or two ashpits, mostly composed of fine ashes, sea-shells, and broken hazel-nuts, were distinctly discernible in the vicinity of the fireplaces, no regular refuse-heap was met with; and the broken bones and horns seemed to be dispersed over the general area of the crannog.

5. Subsidence of Crannog.—In discussing the question regarding the Lochlee crannog I had to contend with an element of very great uncertainty, viz., the impossibility of ascertaining how much of the apparent sinking of the crannog was due to the rising of the level of the lake in consequence of the filling up of the bed of the outlet. This doubtful element is, however, entirely eliminated from the problem as it is presented to us at Lochspouts. Whatever alterations may have taken place in the position of the outlet, one thing is certain, that the tendency could never be to raise the level of the lake. Hence, if we can fix on the position of the natural outlet when the artificial cutting was made, the minimum amount of subsidence of the crannog resolves itself into simply measuring the height of this point above the present surface of the log pavement. I use the word minimum, because, to determine the actual amount, other two elements have to be considered, both of which tend to magnify the amount of subsidence, viz. (1) How much the surface of the crannog was originally above water; and (2) the amount of lowering of the lake, due to frictional erosion of the water at the outlet, during the interval between the founding of the crannog and the date of the artificial cutting of the rock. For the present I entirely exclude both these elements; so that the solution of the problem depends on the practicability of ascertaining the height of the lowest natural outlet above the level of the log pavement. I believe the primary outlet was at the extreme east end of the barrier, where it disappears into the hillside. Here is to be seen a large deep opening, naturally scooped out of the rock; the lowest portion of which is only 16¹/₂ feet above the present level of the lake. It was, however, found, on measurement, that a lower natural outlet was just in the site of the present artificial cutting. The upper portion of the latter is wide, but about 14 feet from the running water it contracts into a narrow channel with perpendicular sides, and the sole difficulty is to determine where nature ended and art began. If we suppose that the whole of this narrow channel was artificially cut, then the lake must have been lowered to a corresponding extent. This, however, may be beyond the mark, as in the course of time the water itself would make a similar channel. After repeated and most careful inspections of this spot, I am inclined to fix the minimum amount of cutting at 10 or 12 feet. Based, therefore, on the lowest estimate, the original surface of the crannog must have subsided over 10 feet, as it is now just on a level with the lake water.

Relics.

No inference worthy of note could be drawn from the relative position of the relics found on this crannog. They were interspersed amongst the dÉbris, chiefly around the fireplaces and over the area of the log pavement, at a depth varying according to their distance from the centre of the mound, but none more superficial than about 18 inches from its surface. Though in point of number and variety the general collection is not equal to that from Lochlee, it is scarcely inferior to it in archÆological importance. Following the system of arrangement adopted in the latter, I have described the various articles under the several heads suggested by the respective materials of which they are made.

I. Objects made of Stone.

Hammer-Stones.—These implements were in great abundance, forty of which were collected and transferred to Kilkerran House. According to the principle of classification hinted at in the description of those found at Lochlee, which is based exclusively on their shape and the position of the markings, they fall to be arranged in three groups.

First, Two are somewhat flat and circular, about 3¹/₂ inches in diameter, and exhibit markings all round the edge.

Second, Three, similarly shaped, have the markings on the flat surfaces alone, and appear to have been held when used with one of the flat surfaces in the palm of the hand.

Third, The rest are more or less elongated, and show wrought surfaces at one or both ends. The largest, made of a fine-grained dolorite, is beautifully polished, tapers slightly towards one end, and measures 7 inches long by 4 broad. A few more were of the same material; and Mr. J. Thomson, F.G.S., Glasgow, informs me that this rock is only found in situ at Ailsa Craig, but that water-worn pebbles of it are abundant along the seashore in the neighbourhood of Girvan.

Polishers.—Under this head I classify about a dozen pestle-like implements, notwithstanding that slight pounding markings were observed at the ends of one or two of them, because they are all over so smooth and glossy that they seemed to have been used rather for polishing or smoothing some soft material, than as hammer-stones. There are also about a similar number of flat polishers, varying much both in size and shape, one of which is triangularly shaped like a modern smoothing-iron. It measures 5 inches long, 4¹/₂ broad at base, and 1¹/₂ inch thick.

Whetstones.—These are also numerous, but it is difficult to draw a minute distinction between them and the polishers. They vary in length from 2¹/₂ to 6¹/₂ inches, and are mostly composed of hard claystone or indurated sandstone. One of them, judging from the only fragment which was found, was manufactured with great care, and had a small hole at one end for suspension. This fragment, which is here figured (Fig. 162), measures 3¹/₂ inches long, 2 broad, and half an inch thick.

Another is made of fine-grained sandstone, and shaped precisely similar to the sharpening-stones now used for scythes. Its dimensions are 5¹/₂ inches long, ³/₄ inch broad, and ¹/₂ inch deep (Fig. 163).

Funnel-shaped Holes.—Three flat portions of sandstone, each containing a small hole, opening up on both sides into funnel-like cavities. The stone here engraved is roughly circular, about 4 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick. The cavity at its mouth is about 1 inch in diameter, ¹/₂ an inch deep, and communicates with a similar one on the other side by a hole through which a small goose-quill can just pass. The holes in the other stones are precisely similar in shape, only the mouth of the funnel in one is one-third larger, and in the other about as much less; these differences being entirely dependent on the thickness of the stone (Fig. 164).

Pebbles.—Of these there were several hundreds found, scattered all over the island, varying in size from half an inch to 6 or 7 inches in diameter, the larger of which might have been used as anvils, others as heating-stones, sling-stones, etc.

Querns.—Out of eleven quern-stones, almost all of which were made of granite, only two could be positively stated to be under ones. Three of the upper ones were round coarse lumps, about 1 foot in diameter and 10 inches deep, and of these two appear to have been unfinished. One had merely a cup-shaped cavity on its top, but no hole; and the other, in addition to the cup, had the central hole partially bored from both sides. Neither of them had any marginal hole.

Four were circular, but rather flatter than usual, and measured a little over 1 foot in diameter.

One was oval-shaped and particularly well finished, length 15 inches, breadth 13, and depth 5. The diameter of the funnel at its mouth was 5 inches, and the lower portion of it was lengthened in a line with the main axis of the quern—evidently caused by the friction of the pivot on which it turned round. The smaller end, containing the hole for a handle, was curved downwards, so that its tip was 1³/₄ inch lower than the under surface of the quern; another striking evidence of the long period the stone had been in actual use.

Spindle Whorl.—One spindle whorl (made of fine sandstone) is 1³/₄ inch in diameter and ⁵/₈ inch thick (Fig. 165).

Polished Discs.[32]—Two of these interesting objects have turned up on this crannog. One, though wanting a small segment of being a complete circle, is evidently unbroken, as it presents in its whole perimeter a finely cut edge. It is composed of a whitish micaceous stone, quite smooth on both surfaces, but has no glossy appearance. It measures 4¹/₂ inches in diameter, and has a uniform thickness of a quarter of an inch (Fig. 166).

The other, which appears to have been a complete circle, was broken into several portions, two of which have been recovered. These do not fit into each other, but they are so similar in composition, thickness, polish, and size of curvature, that there can be no doubt they belonged to the same disc. The arc of the larger fragment, which is very nearly a semicircle, indicates that the diameter of the completed circle would be 4³/₄ inches. It is made of a hard, dark, compact stone, highly polished on both sides, and neatly cut at the circumference. It is a quarter of an inch thick at the edge, but becomes gradually a shade thicker towards the centre (Fig. 167).

Oval implement with two hollowed surfaces.—This is a smooth oval-shaped stone with a wrought, circular, and cup-shaped depression on each side. Its length is 3¹/₄ inches, breadth 2⁵/₈, and thickness 1 inch. The largest diameter of the depression is 1⁵/₈ inch, and its greatest depth ¹/₂ an inch. It is made of a hard grey trap rock, and, though well wrought all over, is not polished, nor does it exhibit any markings such as are seen on the ordinary hammer-stones, (Fig. 168). See page 56.

Flint Scrapers.—Of these there are two. One, coarsely chipped out of a dark flint, is here figured (Fig. 169). It is roughly circular in shape, and about two inches in diameter. The other is a chip made by a single blow from the outside of a whitened nodule, and is only ³/₄ of an inch in diameter.

Rings of Lignite, etc.—Several bits of lignite or cannel coal were found, some of which showed marks of tools. One small thin bit seems to be the half of a flattened ring, circular on the inside (diameter ¹/₂ an inch), but only roughly rounded on the outside.

Ring.—A beautifully polished ring, having a diameter (external measurement) of 1¹/₄ inch (Fig. 170).

Armlets.—Portions of two other rings considerably larger, like armlets, one slender, and the other massive and thick.

II. Object of Bone.

Pin.—A polished pin, length 2³/₄ inches (Fig. 171).

Chisel.—An implement made by cutting a small leg-bone slantingly, so as to present a chisel-like edge. It is 4³/₄ inches long (Fig. 172).

Awl.—An awl-like instrument, 4 inches long.

Pointed Implements.—Two small-pointed objects, showing marks of a sharp-cutting instrument, and another of a much larger size, being about 6 inches long.

Spatula.—Portion of a flat rib used as a spatula or knife. It is 6 inches long and ³/₄ inch broad.

Knife Handle.—Portion of a shank-bone 2 inches long, hollow in centre, and cut straight across at both ends.

III. Objects of Horn.

Pick.—Deer-horn pick, made of portion of the horn (as a handle) and the first tine, and much used at point, and also on the back, the burr being almost entirely worn off. Length of the handle is 12 inches (Fig. 173).

Club.—Hammer or club-like implement, having the head formed of 3 inches of the root of the horn and the handle of the first tine. This implement is much decayed by long maceration.

Spear-shaped Portion.—This weapon is cut lengthways out of the side of a large red-deer horn, and is 9 inches long and 1¹/₂ broad.

Pointed Object.—A slender object, 2 inches long, cut out of a horn lengthways, and sharp at both ends.

Handle.—Cut portion of a tine 3 inches long, and hollowed as if for the handle of a knife.

Pointed Tines.—A few of these show signs of having been used. An implement made of the horn of roe-deer is here figured (Fig. 174).

IV. Objects of Wood.

A striking contrast between this collection and that from Lochlee crannog is the paucity of wooden implements. Indeed, here the only article worth noticing is a slender stave, like that of a milk-cog. It is 8¹/₂ inches long, and the end with the transverse groove is a shade thicker.

V. Objects of Metal.

(a.) Articles made of Iron.—Articles made of this metal are extremely few. Besides two portions so corroded that it is impossible to say what they might have been, there remains only one object to be described, viz., a small hand-dagger, much worn and oxidised. It is 6 inches long, and shows evidence of riveting at the end.

Fig. 175.—Object of Bronze (¹/₁).