This lake is now nearly drained, and its crannog, which measured 130
feet in diameter, has recently been re-investigated by Mr. Wakeman,
who thus describes the result:--
"Upon examination, the work presented the usual layers of bog, earth,
and stones, mixed with small trunks and boughs of ash, alder, beech,
yew, oak, and other trees. Here and there, at different levels, were
masses of ferns and furze. The outer edge was strongly piled with
young trees, of the description above referred to; the great majority,
however, being oak. Owing to the softness of the surroundings it
was impossible to completely trace the piling on the side of the
island which faces the ancient loch bed; but on what may be called
the land side the stakes formed six rows placed somewhat regularly,
with usually a space of about two feet between each set, sometimes,
however, they were close together, nearly touching. The stakes stood
about thirty inches asunder, and such of their numbers as were
disturbed for the purpose of examination presented sharply-pointed
ends, the result evidently of powerful and well-laid strokes of a very
keen metallic hatchet or adze.
"Being anxious to find whether the crannog rested upon a frame
of timber, as a tradition of the place stated, and in order, if
possible, to discover the internal construction of the work, I caused
several trenches to be excavated in various places within the staked
enclosure, and then, with a long crowbar, probed as far as that
instrument would reach. The result was that we struck upon several
large and solid pieces of timber, but in what position they were
laid or whether in any way attached to others it was impossible to
determine, owing to the influx of water, and to the spongy character
of the bog-stuff, branches, etc., through which the iron pierced.
Throughout the island--placed apparently without any attempt at
symmetrical arrangement--were several stakes of the same kind, but
larger than any found in the inclosing lines of piles. These timbers
I believe to have been simply intended to act as stays or binders to
the body of the crannog. They certainly did not indicate partitions.
There was no trace of wattle-work, nor was there any example of timber
presenting mortise-holes observable.
"During the process of excavation it became perfectly manifest that
the mound of the crannog was the work of three several periods.
Within a couple of feet of the present surface, near the centre of
the island, were found several large red sandstone flags, still
exhibiting traces of the action of fire, and surrounded by charcoal,
pieces of charred wood, bones of deer, sheep, pigs, goats, and other
animals, many of them evidently split for the marrow. Here also were
some fragments of pottery which had, no doubt, formed portions of
culinary vessels; part of an iron knife of early type; a second and
much smaller knife of iron, to which a wooden handle had been attached
by rivets; a piece of iron spirally twisted; a nail or pin of the same
metal, and a broken whetstone of the usual crannog class. I should
here observe that for many years past the mound had been subjected to
rude tillage, and consequent denudation, and that quern stones of the
'pot' and more ordinary type, belonging in all probability to this
layer, had been found near the hearth, and but a few inches above it.
These are now preserved in a neighbouring cottage.
"The second hearth was about two and a half feet lower in the soil,
and placed at a distance of a few feet south-east of the former,
from which it scarcely differed, except that its vicinity was
much more prolific in bones, broken pottery, charcoal, and other
'kitchen-midden' waifs.
"The third and lowest hearth, or rather fire-place, for no large
stones appeared, lay about eighteen inches lower than that last
described, and nearly beneath it. In connection with both, and mingled
generally in the soil--above, below, and for a considerable distance
around--were broken animal remains; innumerable teeth of swine, deer,
etc., boar-tusks; charcoal; 'burnt stones;' a bead of jet; a bronze
harp peg; an animal's head in iron, probably the leg of a pot; an
article of iron resembling a small, narrow, double axe-head or pick;
rude, oval-shaped hammer-stones; a well-formed knife of trap; an
admirably-worked 'thumbflint;' a core of flint from which flakes had
been struck; portion of a whetstone, and, finally, fragments of the
sides and bottoms of fictile vessels, together with ears or handles of
the same ware." (B. 441, p. 372.)