Barsolas and Derrnagie."
Section IV.
Notice of the Excavation of a Crannog at Buston, near Kilmaurs.
Discovery of the Crannog.—About half-way between Stewarton and Kilmaurs there is, on the farm of Mid Buston, the property of the Earl of Eglinton, a shallow basin, now converted into a richly cultivated meadow, but which formerly, as represented in Bleau's Atlas, formed the bed of a lake of considerable size called Loch Buston. Within the recollection of the present generation this area was a mossy bog in summer and a sheet of water in winter; and about fifty years ago, when the present tenant, Mr. Robert Hay, came to reside on the farm, there was a small mound or island situated about its centre, locally known as the Swan Knowe, on account of the numbers of wild swans that formerly used to frequent it. When subsequently engaged in reclaiming the bog, Mr. Hay states that as many as thirteen cart-loads of timber were removed from the "Knowe," and he distinctly remembers that, in consequence of the difficulty of detaching some of the beams mortised into others, his father then made the remark, "there maun hae been dwallers here at ae time." He also states that until the land was thoroughly redrained, some five years ago, there was still a considerable mound to be seen; but at the beginning of December 1880, when I first visited the locality, there was hardly any elevation to distinguish it from the surrounding field. Notwithstanding Mr. Hay's knowledge of the structure of the "Knowe," which he supposed to have been erected by one of the old Earls for the purpose of facilitating the shooting of wild-ducks—a purpose for which it had frequently served himself,—the merit of detecting here the ruins of an ancient lake-dwelling is due to Mr. D. MʽNaught, schoolmaster of Kilmaurs. The history of the discovery is most interesting, and reflects much credit on the discoverer; but the story is best told by himself. Having a faint recollection that Mr. MʽNaught was one of a group of critical sceptics who visited Lochlee while the investigations there were in progress, and maintained that the crannog was merely the site of an old "whisky still," I was curious to know the circumstances and exact process of ratiocination which had now actually culminated in placing him in the position of being a discoverer in this same line of research; so, after the importance of the crannog had been established by some valuable "finds," I wrote a note asking if he would kindly oblige me by a written statement of whatever information he could supply on the subject. The following is his reply:—
"Kilmaurs, January 15th, 1881.
"Dear Sir,—I have much pleasure in replying to yours received this morning.
"About five years ago, when engaged in levelling the large drain that passes Buiston crannog, I passed over the very spot, but being utterly ignorant on the subject I noticed nothing peculiar. When passing through the stackyard on my way home I noticed the old beams, but on being told that they were from some old house I thought no more of the matter. The subject had so completely escaped my memory that even when I had seen the Lochlee beams they failed to recall what had formerly arrested my attention at Buiston. My scepticism at Lochlee arose from the fact that I failed to trace the shape and construction of the crannog as detailed in Chambers's Encyclopædia, which was the only authority then at my disposal.
"I never heard anything more of the Buiston crannog till the week of the discovery. Talking with one of the farmers in my own house, the conversation turned on furniture, when bog-oak was mentioned. He remarked that there was as much lying in Buiston stackyard as would stock the parish. At once I remembered what I had formerly seen, and though the recollection was hazy, on afterthought I felt almost sure that I had noticed mortised holes, and that the beams were identical with those I had seen at Lochlee. Next day, as soon as I had closed the school I went up to the farm. Mr. Hay was inclined to pooh-pooh the matter, and said that the place was 'juist a timmer house ane o' the auld Earls had put up to shoot deuks.' Going out to the stackyard I found that the ricks had been built on the old timber, which made excellent 'bottoms.' I looked about for an odd bit, and did eventually get a splinter, but not sufficient for identification. After getting rid of the old man, his youngest son and I set to work at the bottom of one of the ricks, and pulled one of the beams so far out as enabled me to saw off the mortised joint. This I sent to the Standard office, where you saw it on the Saturday morning following. I then went down to the site of the crannog, but it had become so dark that I had to feel my way. I eventually kicked against something which seemed to be an upright sticking through the soil. I went up next morning early, and when I had seen the three uprights afterwards pointed out to you, and the mortised beams stuck in the side of the drain, I no longer had any doubts. I therefore at once wrote to Mr. Cochran-Patrick, and penned a cautious intimation for the Standard, which the editor accepted on trust from me. You know the rest.—Yours truly, "D. MʽNaught.
"Dr. Munro."
On the afternoon of the Saturday referred to in the above letter (December 4th, 1880), I accompanied Mr. MʽNaught to the quondam "Knowe," and in a short time, by a few tentative diggings, the existence here of the remains of a crannog was put beyond a doubt. Our Secretary, R. W. Cochran-Patrick, Esq., M.P., who had already been communicated with, then brought the matter under the notice of the Honourable G. R. Vernon, Auchans, as Commissioner for the Earl of Eglinton; and after due deliberation it was agreed to make an immediate investigation of the crannog on behalf of the proprietor. Accordingly, on the 10th December 1880, six men were started to work in presence of Mr. Vernon, Mr. Cochran-Patrick, and several ladies and gentlemen interested in the discovery. It is needless to describe the subsequent management of the excavations. The peculiar and absorbing interest excited by the variety of the finds during the first few days soon developed the true spirit of inquiry among all concerned, and even the old and highly-respected farmer gave up his long-cherished theory of the "duck-shooting," and ultimately rendered valuable aid by protecting the trenches from the prying curiosity of the general public, and picking up relics from the stuff wheeled out, which became visible by long exposure to weather and heavy rains. By general consent, at least nem. con., I was appointed custodier of the relics; and now, acting on the old saying that possession is nine points of the law, I have assumed the rôle of historian.
Method of Excavating.—The excavations were commenced by making an explorative trench through what appeared to be the centre of the crannog, following as a guide the long diameter of the lake basin. This trench was from 2 to 3 feet deep, and about 5 feet wide, and its general direction lay in a line running from N.W. to S.E. The débris was wheeled sufficiently far not to cover the probable area of the island, and carefully examined, but nothing of importance was found, except a small spindle whorl (Fig. 196), and a fragment of a quern-stone, till the trench reached the southern margin of the crannog. Here, after the tops of a few upright piles were exposed, a large beam was encountered, lying right across the trench, beyond which the stuff turned up from the bottom consisted almost entirely of broken bones and ashes. This was at once recognised as the wished-for midden, and its discovery at this early stage was fortunate, inasmuch as its examination would soon decide, with a trifling outlay, the quality of the crannog as a relic depôt. To this, therefore, attention was exclusively devoted, till the severity of the weather compelled us to abandon working altogether. The depth of clay and soil above the midden was about 21⁄2 feet, and after removing this, its remaining contents were wheeled to a separate place, so as to facilitate a more careful inspection after exposure to winter weather. The large number of rare and valuable relics discovered during the ten days the men were thus employed induced the Earl of Eglinton to sanction a further outlay in the prosecution of these researches; and it was then agreed that nothing less than the removal of the débris over the whole area of the crannog would satisfy archæological demands. The tenant also very kindly consented to leave this portion of his field untilled, so that there was no necessity to resume work till the weather became really suitable for such an undertaking.
Early in April very dry weather, though cold, set in, and on the farmer representing that more favourable circumstances for digging could not be expected, the investigation of the crannog was resumed.
While clearing out the refuse-heap, the position of the surrounding piles immediately to the left of the original trench was readily ascertained to be arranged in three or four circles. With these as guides, it was an easy matter for the workmen to clear away the soil right round the central portion of the crannog without the necessity of constant supervision. The surface soil, which consisted of fine clay, varying in depth from about 6 inches at the centre of the mound to 2 feet beyond the outer circle of stockades, was first wheeled away, and, as no relics were expected here, there was no time wasted in searching for them. Afterwards the dark heterogeneous under stratum of débris was carefully removed from above the wood-work and examined, though not with the same care as the contents of the refuse-heap. Here, however, a few important relics were discovered, among which are an ornamented gold spiral finger-ring, a small earthen crucible, and some fragments of pottery. Having completed this broad annular trench, the débris remaining on the central portion was taken away, but, contrary to expectation, nothing was found in it beyond the evidence of a few fireplaces, some slag, and one or two large wooden pins.