Fig. 189.—Eastern portion of Crannog, showing surrounding Stockades and portion of Log Pavement. The Sign-board marks the position of Canoe. (From Photograph by Mr. Lawrie.)
On tracing the inner circle of stockades all round, it became evident that they formed part of some sort of enclosure. On the south-east side were two well-shaped rectangular uprights, about 2 feet 6 inches high, and 4 feet apart, firmly mortised into a well-constructed wooden flooring. These, as will appear from the sequel, formed portions of the door-posts of the entrance to the area of log pavement. Continuous with them, on the east side, and in the line of the inner circle, some of the intervals between the uprights were actually found to contain the remains of a composite wall of stone and wood. The space between the second and third piles, counting from the doorway, was thus filled up. At the base there were two layers of rectangular stones, then a flat beam of oak laid horizontally, then three layers of thin flagstones, well selected for size and shape, then another oak beam similar to the first, and finally other three layers of flat stones. This wall had partially fallen over, but the relative position of the respective layers was still retained, and showed that when standing it would be about 3 feet high (see Fig. 189). The adjoining space, next the doorway, had two layers of stones at the base, and then a beam, but the rest was wanting. There were no further remains of a decided wall met with, though stones were abundantly encountered all over the area of the crannog. As all the uprights in the inner circle appeared to have been worn or broken, there is no evidence to show what their former height was, but as they now stand, they are not only different in shape, but considerably taller than those in the second and third circles, which are all shorter and more or less pointed.
Fig. 190.—Portion of north side of Crannog, with the space between inner and second circle of piles dug out, showing arrangement of Transverse Beams and structure of the Log Pavement. (From Photograph by Mr. Lawrie.)
Directly facing the door-place, but 13 feet farther out, and nearly in a line with the outer circle of stockades, there was a large rectangularly-shaped beam 11 feet long, containing two mortised holes, one at each end, and having an interval of 8 feet 6 inches between them. This beam lay close to two massive uprights which projected about 2 feet above the surface of the wooden flooring, and, both as regards distance and shape, looked as if they had been mortised into the holes in the former. When the beam was thus applied and restored into its natural position, the portion of its under side between the mortised holes was observed to have a longitudinal groove, having its inner margin bevelled off, and containing a few round holes, which, however, did not penetrate to its upper surface, and just underneath it were the external ends of two large oak planks, which extended inwards to the doorway. On careful inspection these planks were also found to contain a few vertical holes, so that it became apparent that the interval between them and the large transverse was protected by a series of upright wooden spars. External to this parapet-like arrangement was the refuse-heap, which, on being entirely cleared away, showed that the two uprights, though exposed to a depth of about 6 feet below the wooden pavement, were immovably fixed. Close to one of them deeper digging was attempted, with the view of getting an idea of its length, and at a depth of 4 feet still lower a solid beam could be felt with an iron probe; but whether the upright was mortised into it I could not determine. Continuous with the east end of this ashpit railing was the external circle of stockades, which curved a little outwards, and at the other end, in addition to an external line of slender stockades which took a more rapid sweep outwards, there was a straight row of uprights thickly placed together, and protected at their base by a strong fixed beam, into which they were mortised (see Fig. 188). This beam was on a lower level than the platform in front of the doorway, and the upper ends of the uprights were free, but the probability is that originally they were bound by a transverse rail. On the inner side of this line a number of short beams were observed lying flat, as if they had been intended for a pathway, and towards its external end there lay a confused heap of slender beams projecting beyond the line of the outer stockades. It was this peculiarity that suggested this spot as the probable terminus of an under-water gangway leading to the shore, the determination of which led to the making of a trench some 12 feet farther out, which resulted in the discovery of a canoe.
Though nothing in the arrangement of the wooden structures here could be construed to indicate a regular landing-stage, it was very probable, from its southern exposure, the position of the canoe, and the proximity of the doorway to the log pavement, together with the pathway leading up to it, that this really was the ordinary landing-place as well as the outer entrance to the crannog.
Refuse-heap.—As mentioned above, the refuse-heap lay outside the stockades, and immediately beyond the railing in front of the supposed doorway to the central area of the crannog. It was of an oblong shape, measuring from 25 to 30 feet long (along the margin of the island), and about 15 to 20 feet across. Its depth, near the railing, would be about 5 feet in addition to its superficial layer of clay and silt. The principal ingredients of its central portion were broken bones and ashes, but towards the margin and lower strata these were largely mixed with decayed brushwood. To clear out its deeper portions was a difficult matter, owing to the rapid accumulation of water. One of the combs (Fig. 218), and a bone pin, were found here in my presence, at a depth of not less than 6 or 7 feet below the surface of the field. The lowest stratum reached consisted of what seemed to me to be lake silt, brushwood, and some large bones. The bones, especially those from the lower strata, were abundantly impregnated with the mineral vivianite, which, in some of the larger ones, formed groups of most beautiful green crystals, similar in all respects to those found at the Lochlee crannog. What, however, made the investigation of the midden so full of interest was the number of rare and valuable relics recovered from its contents. Some of them were picked up in situ, when the men were wheeling out the stuff, but others were subsequently found by riddling the débris when it became sufficiently dry to admit of this process.
The general results of the above observations may be categorically summed up as follows:—
1. The island, as far as could be ascertained from the investigations made, was composed of a succession of layers of the trunks and branches of trees, intermingled in some places with stones, turf, etc.