THE
LAKE DWELLINGS
OF
IRELAND.
[Illustration: _Frontispiece._
IRISH LAKE DWELLING OF THE ISOLATED TYPE.
_Ideally restored from inspection of numerous sites._]
THE
LAKE DWELLINGS
OF
IRELAND:
OR ANCIENT
LACUSTRINE HABITATIONS OF ERIN,
_COMMONLY CALLED CRANNOGS_.
BY
W. G. WOOD-MARTIN, M.R.I.A., F.R.H.A.A.I.,
LIEUT.-COLONEL 8TH BRIGADE NORTH IRISH DIVISION, R.A.;
_Author of “Sligo and the Enniskilleners”;
“History of Sligo, from the Earliest Ages
to the close of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth.”_
“There, driving many an oaken stake
Into the shallow, skilful hands
A steadfast island-dwelling make,
Seen from the hill-tops like a fleet
Of wattled houses.…”
“The footprints of an elder race are here,
And memories of an heroic time,
And shadows of the old mysterious faith.”
_DUBLIN_:
HODGES, FIGGIS & CO., GRAFTON STREET.
PUBLISHERS TO THE UNIVERSITY.
_LONDON_:
LONGMANS, GREEN & CO., PATERNOSTER ROW.
1886.
_ALL RIGHTS RESERVED._
DUBLIN: PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.
[Illustration]
PREFACE.
The object the writer has in view in this Publication is to place on
record the remarkable discoveries made in a department of Archæology
hitherto almost unnoticed in Ireland, except in the Proceedings,
Catalogues, and Journals of various learned Societies. So far back
as 1861 a writer remarked that such a work would be “a real boon to
archæology,” yet in the interval none has appeared. The cause is
not far to seek. A publication treating of the habits and social
economy of long-forgotten generations is little calculated to gain
a rapid foothold with the general public, by whom the study of the
past may probably be considered dull as well as useless reading. To
many, however, it proves most interesting to observe--despite widest
variations of climatic conditions--the great similarity of the ways and
habits of man while in a rude uncultivated state--acting as it were
by a common instinct--and again to trace his upward progress towards
civilization. A wide tract in this field of archæological research
is fortunately opened up by a comparison of the Irish Lake Dwellings
and their “finds” with those of other countries, more especially
with the discoveries brought into such prominent notice by Keller in
Switzerland, and Munro in Scotland.
To the late Sir William Wilde belongs the honour of first drawing
general attention to the water habitations of Erin; his labours have
been ably followed up by W. F. Wakeman, who has so largely contributed
to the _Journal of the Royal Historical and Archæological Association
of Ireland_ both Papers and Drawings illustrative of the subject.
In the present work, Kinahan, Reeves, Graves, Wilde, and other
specialists, have been freely quoted, as evidenced in the text; in
short, the observations of every author have been utilized, provided
they touched on points that could tend in any degree to elucidate
the subject under consideration. “A dwarf on a giant’s shoulders
sees further of the two”: thus the writer, standing in this line of
investigation on the eminence created by his predecessors, may perhaps
be enabled to lay before his readers a distinct and comprehensive view
of the Ancient Lake Dwellings in Ireland. Recent discoveries and new
matter will be found in these pages; but the special intention has
been to collect carefully all the information hitherto furnished by
the explorers of Irish Lake Dwellings, and to present that information
in a condensed form, “an abridgment of all that is pleasant,” so as to
render it acceptable to archæologists, and perchance agreeable to the
general reader, who, not having had his attention previously directed
towards the subject, can scarcely be supposed willing to explore the
voluminous records of scientific societies in search of items connected
with the question of lacustrine remains in Ireland.
This Publication may, perhaps, help to diffuse more generally the
knowledge already possessed, so that when fresh discoveries are made
in any new locality increased care may be devoted to the exploration;
for every artificial island is not necessarily of remote antiquity,
and the most careful examination is essential before arriving at a
decision respecting the probable period of the primary construction
of a crannog. It would be fortunate indeed should these pages excite
sufficient attention to prove, even remotely, the cause of having the
various relics indicative of the social economy and industries of the
inhabitants of our ancient “water-towns” arranged systematically in
the new Museum of the Science and Art Department, now in course of
construction in Dublin. The facility thus afforded of studying these
antiquities--some of them safely protected during untold centuries by
their covering of peat and water--could not fail to lead to a clearer
comprehension of the real condition of ancient culture and civilization
in Erin.
The Council of the Royal Irish Academy most generously permitted for
this work the use of all the woodcuts in their possession illustrative
of lacustrine remains, and the same favour was accorded by the Royal
Historical and Archæological Association of Ireland, through the
Secretary, the Rev. James Graves.
Plate VIII. and figures 18, 27, 57, 129, 188, 196, 197, and 216 were
granted by the Council of the Royal Archæological Institute of Great
Britain and Ireland; figures 206 and 207 by the Society of Antiquaries
of London, together with plate III. taken from _The Archæologia_;
figures 6, 7, and 8, by the Anthropological Society; figures 214 and
215 by the well-known antiquary, John Evans; plate XXXVIII., by W.
T. Lockwood; and by permission of Robert Mac Adam figures 126, 147,
and 148, are reproduced from the _Ulster Journal of Archæology_. As
far as practicable, every hitherto published illustration bearing on
the subject was applied for, and, with but one exception, most kindly
granted.
Much valuable information was furnished by W. F. Wakeman, who has also
drawn most of the illustrations, their character and expression being
well carried out by the engraver, William Oldham.
CLEVERAGH, SLIGO, _October, 1885_.
CONTENTS.
PART I.
ORIGIN, CONSTRUCTION, AND CIVILIZATION OF THE ANCIENT
LACUSTRINE HABITATIONS OF IRELAND, AS ILLUSTRATED
BY THEIR REMAINS AND THE ANTIQUITIES FOUND IN OR
AROUND THEM.
PAGE
INTRODUCTORY, 1-23
Wooded nature of the country. Wild animals. Climatic changes.
Lakes. Lake-dwellings of all countries.
LAKE-DWELLINGS OF IRELAND, 23-55
Crannog, derivation of the word; a common townland name.
Submarine crannog. Favourite sites for crannogs; mode of
construction. Stone lake-dwellings. Theory of crannogs being
only temporary refuges untenable. Palisades. Dwellings.
Gangways to crannogs. Canoes. Paddles. Anchors. Curach.
Ingenuity of lake-dwellers. Clothing, &c.
STONE, BRONZE, AND IRON AGES, 55-73
Weapons and tools. Armour. Stone moulds.
FOOD AND VEGETABLE REMAINS, 73-81
Hammer-stones. Mammalia. Butter. Yokes. Piscatory implements.
HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY, &C., 81-105
Grain-rubbers. Querns. Human remains. Fireplaces on the
shore. Pottery. Wooden vessels. Drinking cups. Wooden
mallets. “Whorls.” Colouring-matter. Spinning.
ARTICLES OF THE TOILET OR OF PERSONAL ADORNMENT, 105-125
Pins of iron, bronze, bone, and wood, &c. Iron shears and
knives. Combs of bone and wood. Bronze tweezers. Stone and
bronze ornaments: brooches, penannular rings, circlets, &c.
Touchstones. Crucibles. Ornaments of gold and silver. Rings
of stone, jet, and glass. Beads of stone, bone, jet, lead,
earthenware, wood, and glass.
MUSIC, 125-128
Harps and harp pins, trumpets, &c.
AMUSEMENTS, 128-132
Chess a game of great antiquity in Ireland--anecdotes of;
game-board. Counters or discs of bone, perforated and
unperforated. Stone chessman.
INSCRIPTIONS, 132-135
Ogham, inscriptions in.--Anecdotes of.
MONEY, 135-136
Coins found in crannogs.--Anecdotes of.
HORSE FURNITURE, 136-138
Saddle, bronze cheek-pieces, iron bits, and enamelled plates.
MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES, 138-145
Decorated bones and plates of bone, bone spoon, spatula-shaped
bone, miscellaneous articles found in the crannogs of
Randalstown, Lough Guile, Ballykinler, and Cloonfinlough.
Bronze and iron objects from Lagore. Iron fishing implements.
HISTORICAL NOTICES OF CRANNOGS, 145-160
Extracts from State documents and the _Irish Annals_,
tracing their existence from the seventeenth century back
to prehistoric times.