In addition to Sir W. R. Wilde's notes on the great crannog
near Randalstown (B. 24), some very interesting observations on
the antiquities found on it are given in the _Ulster Journal of
Archæology_, vol. vii., supplementary to Troyon's account of the Swiss
Lake-dwellings. (B. 27.) The most complete account, however, is that
of the late Mr. Ed. Benn, from which I take the following extract:--
"The island near Randalstown," writes Mr. Benn, "was a very large and
important one, said to have been occupied by a member of the O'Neil
family. The lake on which it stood has been long since drained, and a
peat moss now occupies the place, which has been yielding antiquities
for the last twenty or thirty years, and still produces some annually.
A good idea of the importance of this island may be formed from the
number of tools and appliances for carrying on the ordinary trades
which have been discovered on it, as the tongs and anvil of the
smith, which latter is a rough lump of iron somewhat smoothed on one
side, and weighing fifty or sixty pounds. Its use as an anvil is
only conjecture; but it is thought a highly probable one, and, if
correct, it shows the difficulty of procuring in those rude times a
piece of iron large and heavy enough for such a purpose. Then there
were found also the crucibles of the brass-founder, one unused, and
several greatly worn and burned out. The perfect one is very neat and
good, and about the size of a small hen's egg. Then we have next the
scissors and two needles of the tailor; one of the needles is about
the size of what is called a darning-needle; the other long and strong
resembling a packing-needle, such as is used for sewing sackcloth:
both are made of brass, and well formed. There was also found the awl
of the shoemaker, a very curious article, and apparently older than
the other things; the blade of this awl is of brass, and the handle
of stone. Several axes or hatchets of the carpenter have turned up,
very like those of the present day; also a pair of small shears, such
as are used by weavers. Connected with agriculture were found a
very small sock of a plough, a curious spade, very light, about four
feet long, all of wood, but neatly tipped with iron on the edge; and
a pair of very large shears, for clipping sheep. There was also a
netting-needle of iron; but few warlike weapons of any kind. None of
the latter, indeed, came within my observation but an iron sword and
a very good battle-axe, such as was used by the galloglasses; it is
shaped like the axe used by coopers, and is very interesting from its
rarity." The further objects described by Mr. Benn are pins of brass,
iron, bone, and wood, generally from 3 to 5 inches long; a large glass
bead and a small crescent-shaped piece of glass; a button with two
eyes; a horseshoe; a few fragments of pottery; a wooden scoop; a brass
dish 15 inches across, including the rim, which is an inch and a half
broad: it is rather more than 2 inches deep; some knives; a comb,
neatly made of bone and riveted with iron nails. "Besides the things
here enumerated, the bog around the Randalstown crannog has already
yielded several boats and parts of boats; these were all hollowed out
of large trees and were very well formed. One of large size, and quite
perfect, has been taken out lately from beneath sixteen feet of moss.
It has been stated, when first raised, it retained its original form
entire, but soon became warped and out of shape. In the bottom of this
boat lay a very neatly made oak paddle, about three feet and a half
long, and a wooden bowl capable of holding nearly a quart. It was
very thick and rude-looking, not made by turning, but by hollowing out
of a solid piece, like the boat itself." (B. 29, p. 86.)
[Illustration: =Fig. 122.=--LOUGH RAVEL. No. 2 = ⅙, 3 and 14 = ¼,
and the rest = ½ real size.]
Some of the relics from the Randalstown crannog I have been able to
identify in the Belfast Museum, and a few others from the same place I
found in the collection of the Royal Irish Academy at Dublin. These,
together with a silver brooch copied from the _Journal of the Royal
Historical and Archæological Association of Ireland_ (B. 215), and
three bronze brooches from the _Ulster Journal of Archæology_, vols.
iv. p. 269, and vi. p. 103, are illustrated on =Fig. 122=.