ANCIENT
SCOTTISH LAKE-DWELLINGS
OR CRANNOGS.

Edinburgh: Printed by Thomas and Archibald Constable

FOR

DAVID DOUGLAS.

ANCIENT
SCOTTISH LAKE-DWELLINGS
OR CRANNOGS

WITH A SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER ON

REMAINS OF LAKE-DWELLINGS IN ENGLAND

BY

ROBERT MUNRO, M.A.

M.D., F.S.A. SCOT.

EDINBURGH: DAVID DOUGLAS
1882

All rights reserved.

PREFACE.

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.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

Sphere of Prehistoric Archæology—Preservation of Antiquarian objects due to exceptional causes—Habit of constructing Lake-dwellings not peculiar to any age—Irish Crannogs—Continental Lake-dwellings Pages 1-15

CHAPTER II.

NOTICES, HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE, OF SCOTTISH LAKE-DWELLINGS PREVIOUS TO THE YEAR 1878.

Dr. Joseph Robertson first directed attention to the prevalence of Crannogs in Scotland—Paper on Crannogs in Buteshire, by Mr. John Mackinlay—Dr. Robertson's views on Scottish Crannogs, and the subsequent publication of his notes by Dr. Stuart—Indications of Crannog remains in Loch of Forfar, Lochindorb, Loch Canmor, Loch-an-eilan, Isle of the Loch of Banchory, Lochrutton, Loch Kinder, Carlingwark, Loch Spinie, Boghall, Parish of Culter, Loch Rannoch, Parish of Croy, Lochs of Kinellan and Achilty, Loch Cot, Lochmaben, Loch Lochy, Loch Lomond, Loch of the Clans, Black Loch of Sanquhar, Barean—Examination of Crannogs in Dowalton Loch—Crannogs in Loch Kielziebar—Artificial Islands in Mull—Lake-dwellings at Ledaig and Lochnell—Crannogs in Wigtownshire—Crannog at Tolsta—Crannog in Loch Lotus—Crannog in Loch of Kilbirnie—General Remarks Pages 16-67

CHAPTER III.

REPORT OF THE DISCOVERY AND EXAMINATION OF A CRANNOG AT LOCHLEE, TARBOLTON, AYRSHIRE.

Discovery of the Crannog—The Excavations—Log-pavement and its surrounding wooden structures—Resumption of explorations after the winter—Structure of the Island—Gangway—Description of the Relics: (1) Objects made of Stone; (2) Objects of Bone; (3) Objects of Deer's Horn; (4) Objects of Wood; (5) Objects of Metal; (6) Miscellaneous Objects—Professor Rolleston's Report on the Osseous Remains—The Flora of the Crannog, by Dr. Bayley Balfour—Concluding Remarks,—On position of Relics—Character of Wood-work—Level of Lake and subsidence of the Island Pages 68-151

CHAPTER IV.

SUBSEQUENT RESEARCHES AND DISCOVERIES AT FRIAR'S CARSE, LOCHSPOUTS, BARHAPPLE, AND BUSTON.

I. Notes of a Crannog at Friar's Carse,—Relics found in the Loch and on the Island. II. Notice of the Excavation of a Crannog at Lochspouts,—Situation of Crannog—Mr. James MʽFadzean's letter to Sir James Fergusson—Investigations commenced—Log Pavement—Hearths—Gangway—Subsidence of Crannog—Description of Relics: (1) Objects of Stone; (2) Objects of Bone; (3) Objects of Horn; (4) Objects of Wood; (5) Objects of Metal; (6) Miscellaneous Objects. III. Notice of a Crannog at Barhapple Loch. IV. Notice of the Excavation of a Crannog at Buston,—Discovery of the Crannog—Method of excavating—Structure of the Island—Remains of Dwelling-house—Refuse-heap—Summary of observations—Discovery and description of Canoe—Description of Relics: (1) Objects of Stone; (2) Objects of Bone; (3) Objects of Horn; (4) Objects of Wood; (5) Objects of Metal—Gold Rings—Forged Coin of Saxon Origin, and Mr. Evan's report upon it; (6) Miscellaneous Objects—Professor Cleland's report on Osseous Remains Pages 152-239

CHAPTER V.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE CLASSIFICATION, GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION, STRUCTURE, AND AGE OF ANCIENT SCOTTISH LAKE-DWELLINGS.

Manner of treating the subject—Division into Five Sections—Section I. Classification and Geographical Distribution of Ancient Scottish Lake-dwellings,—Table showing their distribution in Scotland—No permanent value attached to Table—Indication as to their prevalence in South-west of Scotland. Section II. Historical and Traditional Phenomena associated with the area of their distribution. Section III. Structure of Wooden Islands—Neglected by previous writers—Mechanical skill displayed by the Crannog-builders—Mode of Structure. Section IV. Topographical changes in the Lake-dwelling area during or subsequent to the period of their development,—Supposed change in climate and its effects—Increase of Lake Silt—Subsidence of the Crannogs. Section V. Chronological, Social, and other indications derived from the Relics,—Discoveries of Relics confined almost to the Counties of Ayr and Wigtown—Roman and Celtic elements exhibited by Relics—General facies of Relics similar to ordinary Celtic remains in Scotland and Ireland—Canoes not necessarily belonging to Prehistoric remains—Difficulty of drawing reliable conclusion from the Pottery of the Crannogs—Crannogs in South-west of Scotland were used as safes—Their occupiers lived on the produce of agriculture rather than that of the chase—Came to an end as a system of defence upon the conquest of the country by the Saxons—Relics from the Lake-dwellings similar to those from the Victoria Cave, Yorkshire, and the Borness Cave, Kirkcudbrightshire—No evidence as to the age of Crannogs beyond the limits of the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde Pages 240-288

CHAPTER VI.

REMAINS OF LAKE-DWELLINGS IN ENGLAND.

Sir Charles J. F. Bunbury on remains at Wretham Mere, Norfolk—Pile Structures at London Wall—Crannog in Llangorse Lake, South Wales—Professor Boyd Dawkins on Pile Structures in the Bronze Age—Professor T. Rupert Jones on English Lake-Dwellings—Pile Structures at Holderness, York—Concluding Remarks—Hypothesis as to primary source of the ideas that led to the development of British Lake-Dwellings Pages 289-303

APPENDIX.

Additional Discoveries on the Crannog in Lochspouts,—Lake basin of Lochspouts converted into a reservoir—In consequence of which further excavations made on the site of the Lake-dwelling—Upper Log-Pavement found to be a secondary one superimposed on the débris of a former habitation—Description of Relics found Pages 305-313

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PLATES.