In publishing this work few prefatory remarks are required, beyond an explanation of the circumstances which led to its assuming the present form. The primary object contemplated was to place before general readers a record of some remarkable discoveries recently made in the south-west of Scotland, in a department of ArchÆology hitherto little known, and of which carefully prepared reports have already appeared in the second and third volumes of the Collections of the Ayrshire and Wigtownshire ArchÆological Association.

As it was at the instigation of R. W. Cochran-Patrick, Esq., M.P., that the explorations which led to these discoveries were originally undertaken, so it was also with him that the proposal to issue these reports in a handy volume originated. It occurred, however, to me, that, considering how little had been known of Scottish Lake-Dwellings in general, and that even this little was only accessible to the members of a few learned Societies, it would be a more satisfactory undertaking to incorporate with the original reports, a rÉsumÉ of the observations made by previous writers and explorers, so as to present to the public a complete compendium, as it were, of the whole subject.

The outcome of this idea is the volume now published, which, accordingly, aims at comprising all that is actually known of ancient British Lake-Dwellings up to the present time.

Such being its comprehensive scope, perhaps an apology ought to be here made for its many shortcomings; but this, I trust, will appear less necessary when I explain that it is the result of the occupation of such scraps of time as could be spared during the last two or three years from the active duties of a busy professional life.

Instead of attempting to interpret the references made to Lake-Dwellings by previous writers (many of which, though correct in point of fact, were little understood by the observers), in virtue of the additional knowledge derived from recent explorations, and giving the substance of their observations in my own language, I have thought it preferable to retain the exact words of the original narrators. Hence my principal work, in the compilation of Chapter ii., was the selection from a mass of literature—chiefly old—of such portions as could be fairly construed to indicate the former existence of ancient lacustrine abodes in this country. The brevity of this portion of the work can be easily remedied by a perusal of the original sources from which my extracts have been taken, to all of which I have been careful in supplying the proper references.

The great services rendered to the science of ArchÆology by the numerous gentlemen who interested themselves in the various crannogs, and helped to bring the explorations to a successful termination, are faithfully acknowledged in the text where the respective investigations are described.

To R. W. Cochran-Patrick, Esq., LL.D., F.S.A., M.P., I am under the deepest obligations for valuable advice and assistance received in all stages of the researches—explorations, engravings, reports, etc.,—all being subject to his critical supervision. For the knowledge which he thus so freely and unselfishly placed at my disposal, as well as for much encouragement kindly given during the progress of the entire work, I now beg to express my warmest thanks.

To Joseph Anderson, Esq., LL.D., Keeper of the National Museum of the Antiquaries of Scotland, I am indebted for many hints regarding the character of the relics, and for his kindness in reading the proof-sheets of Chapter v. The remarks made in this chapter on the historical and traditional phenomena associated with the Lake-Dwelling area in Scotland, and on the supposed climatal changes since the prehistoric period, are intended as mere side-lights, and for the benefit of general readers who may be curious to know what (i.e. how little) the collateral sciences have to do with the special branch of ArchÆology treated of in this volume.

I have also to express my indebtedness to the Ayrshire and Wigtownshire ArchÆological Association for the use of all the woodcuts illustrating Chapters iii. and iv., with the exception of Figs. 33 to 35, and 38 to 42, Fig. 54, Fig. 138, and Figs. 159 to 161; and for permission to reprint the article of the late Professor Rolleston on the Osseous Remains from the Lochlee Crannog; that of Professor Bayley Balfour on the Vegetal Remains from the same Crannog; that of Mr. John Borland, F.C.S., F.R.M.S., on the Analysis of Vivianite; that of Professor Cleland, F.R.S., on the Osseous Remains from the Buston Crannog; that of John Evans, Esq., D.C.L., F.R.S., F.S.A., on the Saxon Coin; and that of the Rev. George Wilson, C.M.S.A. Scot., on the investigation of Barhapple Crannog.

I am under similar obligations to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland for the use of many of the woodcuts illustrating Chapter ii.

ROBERT MUNRO.

Braehead House, Kilmarnock,
May 1882.