Lochrutton, Kirkcudbrightshire.
"This loch is about a mile in length, and half a mile broad. In the middle of it there is a small island, about half a rood in extent, of a circular form. It seems to have been, at least in part, artificial. Over its whole surface there is a collection of large stones which have been founded on a frame of oak planks."—(Old Stat. Account, vol. ii. p. 37.)
Loch Kinder, Kirkcudbrightshire.
"In Loch Kinder there is an artificial mount of stones, rising 6 or 7 feet above the surface of the water, supposed to have been constructed for the purpose of securing the most valuable effects of the neighbouring families from the depredations of the borderers. The stones stand on a frame of large oaks, which is visible when the weather is clear and calm."—(Old Stat. Account, vol. ii. p. 139.)
Carlingwark Loch, Kirkcudbrightshire.
"When the water was let out of the Carlingwark Loch, in the year 1765, at the mouth of the drain next to the loch there was found a dam, or building of stone, moss, and clay, which appears to have been designed for deepening the loch. Besides this stone dam there was one of oak wood and earth, at the end of the town of Castle Douglas, now covered by the military road. About this place many horse-shoes were found sunk deep in the mud, of quite a different make from those now in use. Several very large stag-heads were got in the loch; a large brass pan was also found in it. Near the south-west corner of the loch a brass pugio or dagger, 22 inches long, and plated with gold, was raised from the bottom in a bag of marl. Before it was drained there were two isles in the loch—the one near the north end, and the other near the south end of it. These isles were places of rest for large quantities of water-fowls of various kinds, which annually came and bred there; even wild geese, it is said, have been sometimes known to breed on these isles. There was always a tradition in the parish that there had been a town in the loch which sunk, or was drowned; and that there were two churches or chapels—one on each of the large isles.... The vestige or foundation of an iron forge was discovered on the south isle. Around it, likewise, there had been a stone building, or rampart; and from this isle to the opposite side, on the north-east, there is a road of stone secured by piles of oak wood, with an opening, supposed to have been for a drawbridge. In several places of the loch canoes were found which appear to have been hollowed, after the manner of the American savages, with fire. On a small isle, near the north end of the loch, there was found a large iron mallet or hammer stained on one end with blood. It is now in the hands of the Antiquarian Society at Edinburgh, and is supposed to have been an instrument used by the ancient Druids in killing their sacrifices. On several of the little isles in the loch were large frames of black oak, neatly joined. There are two small isles that have been evidently formed by strong piles of wood driven into the moss and marl, on which were placed large frames of black oak. The tops of these were fully 6 feet under water before the loch was drained. The design of these works is not at present known."—(Old Stat. Account, vol. viii. p. 304.)
Fig. 10.—Caldron found in Carlingwark Loch.
A large bronze caldron, found by Mr. Samuel Gordon and J. T. Blackley while fishing near the Fir Island, and dredged out of the loch, contained a large number of iron and bronze implements (Fig. 10). When this caldron was raised, it was shining like gold. Mr. Gordon thinks it was left by Edward I., who had a camp on the Fir Island, and that it was deposited to prevent the Gallovidians getting any metal in their possession. A bronze sword was also found in this Loch, which is now in the National Museum, Scotland.—(Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. vii. p. 7; and x. p. 286.)
Loch Spinie, Morayshire.