Barhapple ("horse hill") Loch is a small lake some 500 yards long
and 300 broad. Here, in 1880, in consequence of drainage operations,
a crannog became visible; but, owing to the sponginess of its
surface, no effective examination could be carried out. The Earl of
Stair, finding that during the summer of 1884 the island had become
much drier and harder, made arrangements to have it thoroughly
investigated. That the increased firmness and consolidation of the
island was due to shrinkage was manifest from the fact that the
upright piles, which, when discovered, barely showed above the mud,
now projected 2 or 3 feet, and presented the appearance of a decayed
forest, with its stunted trunks still standing. It was also observed
that this shrinkage extended to all parts of the mossy lake-bed; and,
as a consequence of this, two double lines of piles became visible
in the long grass, one commencing at the north and the other at the
east shore of the lake. Both lines were directed to the crannog,
but stopped short of it by some 20 or 30 yards. As to the structure
of the crannog, it was remarked that not only the uprights, but the
horizontal beams were more methodically arranged, and of a stronger
character towards the margin. Here the uprights, many of which were
made of young trees of oak and ash, were firmly supported, especially
in the outer circle, by the intertwining among them of horizontal
timbers. On the north side, in a line with the piles of one of the
gangways, a distinct roadway, made of round beams, was traced,
running from the margin of the island to the dwelling-house, which
was situated on the east side, directly facing the other gangway. In
this building two fire-places were recognised, one a little north
of the other, and around them was a layer of charcoal from 5 to 12
inches thick, containing the fag-ends of burnt beams, heather, and
brushwood. From among these embers some large prepared beams, also
partially burnt, were disinterred, two of which terminated in round
tenons, having at a little distance from their extremities a raised
head or flange. From these and other appearances it was inferred that
the crannog had been destroyed by a conflagration during a strong
north-west gale, and as there was no evidence of much accumulated
_débris_, it was supposed that this catastrophe occurred shortly after
its erection. On making a trench through the island it was found that
below the burnt layer there were beds of brushwood, ferns, etc., to
a depth of 2 or 3 feet. Beneath this lay the peaty substance of the
lake-bottom, through which an iron rod could be readily plunged to the
extent of 4 feet, when it struck some hard material, probably rock or
silt of the original glacial bottom.
[Illustration: =Fig. 169.=--A Ring, Cannel Coal (1/1).]
Although this was the largest crannog hitherto found in Scotland,
being 157 yards in circumference, it was extremely poor in relics, a
fact which may be accounted for by the shortness of its duration. The
list of relics includes three shale rings (=Fig. 169=), two of which
were only fragments; half a canoe; a broken paddle, and some worked
pieces of wood.