Fig. 38.—Diagram of Excavation.
T, Outer circular trench with stuff thrown outwards. DD, Trenches near centre of crannog. A, Mortised beams at north-east corner. E, Rude platform adjacent to mortised beams. P, LP, Upper and lower pavements or hearths, with stakes surrounding them. GG, Horizontal beams on level with lower pavement. B, Main drain passing through the mound. F, Undisturbed mound. CC, Two transverse beams lying across near the bottom of trench, with a square-cut hole in each, but not containing uprights.
Upon careful inspection we then discovered immediately above the pavement, at a height of 21⁄2 feet, and rather less than a foot from the surface of the mound, another pavement similar to the former. These pavements rested on layers of clay which extended several feet beyond them, and gradually thinned out towards the edge. On a level with the lower pavement we found the remains of a series of massive stakes with square-cut ends, which appeared to surround it. They were very much decayed, and it was difficult to ascertain their original number, but seven were noted, which were kept standing in position for some time. Two well-shaped plank-like beams were lying horizontally at the east side of the lower pavement, and on a level with it. The distance between these upright stakes varied from 2 to 4 feet, and, as already noticed, they were not pointed at their bases but cut across. One, indeed, we found to have a small portion projecting from the centre of its base, which neatly mortised into a hole formed by a piece of wood, a flat stone, and some clay. On a subsequent occasion, when digging lower, we came upon another of these stakes which had pressed down the portion of clay on which it rested nearly a foot. The lower pavement slanted a little to the south-west, and it was also observed that the bottoms of the stakes were somewhat lower in that direction. On the north side they came close to the pavement, but on the south extended about 5 feet beyond it. The upper pavement was about a foot nearer the outer trench, in the direction of the wooden platform already described at its north-east corner, and hence it only partially covered the lower. It was carefully built with stones and clay round a wooden stake, corresponding with the series of stakes on a level with the lower pavement, and the layer of clay underneath it extended eastwards over one of the horizontal beams above referred to. Both these pavements were neatly constructed of flat stones of various sizes, and about an inch and a half thick, and had a raised rim round them also formed of flat stones, but uniformly selected and set on edge. They were slightly oval in shape, and the major and minor axes of the lower one measured 5 and 4 feet respectively. Traces of other pavements between the upper and lower were observed, but before further examination was made the whole mass above the lower or first-discovered pavement was trodden down by visitors.
At this stage I have to record the loss of the active services of Mr. Cochran-Patrick, who hitherto took notes and sketches of each day's proceedings. In consequence of his absence, owing to a protracted illness, and the inability of the other gentlemen to attend, this duty now fell on my inexperienced shoulders; and in giving this short account of the work, I have only to say that, however imperfectly done, I have endeavoured, during very inclement weather, to procure as correct and faithful a record of the explorations as possible.
While making a tentative digging on the south side of the lower pavement, I ascertained that the soil underneath its corresponding layer of clay (which, by the way, extended much farther than any of the other layers) contained boars' tusks, broken bones, and charcoal. After digging for about 4 feet below the level of the pavement, we came upon a layer of chips of wood as if cut by a hatchet, and below this a thick layer of turf with the grassy side downwards. Water here oozed up, but with the spade I could readily distinguish that underneath the turf there were large logs of wood extending farther in all directions than I could then ascertain. With a pole we took the perpendicular height of the level of the surface of the upper hearth above these logs, and it measured exactly 7 feet 9 inches, so that the greatest depth of the accumulated rubbish since the logs were laid, i.e. about centre of mound, would be about 81⁄2 feet. I then determined to clear the soil entirely away round the fireplace down to these logs, still keeping the surrounding trench at the same breadth as before, viz., 4 to 5 feet. While this was being done we inspected the stuff as it was removed, though I now regret this was not done more carefully, and found a great variety of manufactured implements of various materials. Observe that the portion here referred to is well defined,—above by the layer of clay corresponding to the lower or first-discovered pavement, and below by the newly-discovered log pavement. It is fortunate that this was the case, as it turned out so prolific of relics that I have assigned to it the name of relic-bed. Amongst these were a spindle whorl (Fig. 66), two bone chisels (Figs. 69 and 70), and several pointed bone implements (Figs. 71 to 74), a polished stone celt (Fig. 55), a metal knife (Fig. 129), some implements of horn and wood, a fringe-like object manufactured of the stems of a moss (Fig. 151), and a great many hammer-stones. Close to the pavement, but about 2 feet lower, we extracted the skeleton of an animal like that of a goat or sheep, the skull of which was entire, and had short horn-cores attached to it. The relic-bed was made up of partially decomposed vegetable matters, and could be separated into thin layers; the common bracken, moss, parts of the stems of coarse grass, heather, and large quantities of the broken shells of hazel nuts, were frequently met with. The bones were generally broken as if for the extraction of their marrow. The bed of chips of wood was several inches thick, and extended more than half-way round, and had its maximum extent on the south-west side. The logs, all of which were oak, and cut at various lengths, from about 6 feet to 12 feet, seemed to radiate from the central line of the fireplace, like the spokes of a wheel. Underneath these logs were others lying transversely, and in some places a third layer could be detected by probing with a staff. None of these layers of logs were disturbed at this stage of the proceedings.
Fig. 39.—Perpendicular Section through the Hearths, showing structure of the first-discovered pavement. The asterisks indicate the position of the three lowest fireplaces, or stony pavements.