A perpendicular section made of the central mass left standing, just touching the southern edge of the first-discovered pavement, and looking towards the south, presented the appearance of stratified rocks of various colours, of which the above is a sketch. At the bottom is the log pavement; then in succession you see turf, clay, a black line of ashes; then again clay, another line of charcoal and ashes, and lastly, the pavement imbedded in a thick layer of clay. The upper pavement and intermediate section are not represented, as they were demolished by visitors some days previous to the taking of the sketch. Upon removing this central mass of clay and ashes intervening between the stony pavement and the log pavement, Dr. Macdonald and I made the important discovery that there were other two stony pavements corresponding exactly with the charcoal lines in the drawing. The one was 18 inches below the first-discovered pavement (or that figured in the drawing, and which has hitherto been called the lower pavement), and the other 16 inches still lower, and about a similar distance above the logs. Both these pavements were slightly oval in shape, about 4 feet in diameter, and beautifully built with flat stones and raised rims round them, precisely similar to the two already described. While in the act of demolishing these fireplaces we came upon another entire skull of a sheep or goat, with horn-cores attached to it, very like the one already mentioned, and found near the same place. At the north-east side, close to the fireplaces, were a few large stones built one above the other, and poised evenly with wedges of wood and stones. A little to the north of these stones, and about 4 feet from the base of the fireplaces, there was a portion of a large square-cut upright stake, a few feet long, resting on a flat circular board, like the bottom of a barrel, and supported by the log pavement. On the south side of the stones, and close to them, was a round flat piece of oak, with a hole in its centre, somewhat like a quern stone. My fist could just go through this hole, and when found it had a small plug of wood loosely fitting it. Near the same place portions of a large shallow dish made of soft wood, and a small bit of a three-plied rope of withs, were picked up. About 5 feet to the south of the centre of the pavements there was a portion of another upright stake resting on the log pavement. Although various other portions of decayed stakes and pins of oak were found while excavating within a few feet of the fireplaces, they were not so systematically arranged as to suggest the idea that they formed the remains of a surrounding hut, as was undoubtedly the case with those corresponding to the first-discovered pavement, and already described.
Before proceeding further, let me pause for a moment and endeavour to recall, in a few words, the salient points already arrived at, and the reasons that led to the next steps in our investigation. At a portion of the outer trench, it may be remembered, there was found, about a foot under the surface, a rude wooden platform resting on a complete solid basis, which then, naturally enough, was supposed to be the surface of the artificial island; and towards the centre a series of at least four hearths, one above the other. Now the level of the lowest hearth was about 3 feet below that of the wooden platform. What then was the cause of this difference in their level? Did the central portion sink from the weight of the superincumbent mass, or was it originally constructed so? Again, although the fireplaces were nearly equidistant from the trench, measuring east and west (about 39 feet), they were eccentric in the diameter at right angles to this line, being, according to the measurements already given, about 14 feet north of the centre of the space enclosed by the trench. It was therefore evident that nothing short of the removal of a large portion of the central débris would be sufficient to give a correct idea of the log pavement and its surrounding structures, and disclose the treasures supposed to be hidden in it. Having adopted this resolution, the men were instructed accordingly, and at once commenced excavating directly south of the fireplaces. Part of the soil was thrown back into the empty space where the fireplaces stood, and the rest wheeled into the field beyond. The space thus inspected was about 25 feet broad, and extended southwards 31 feet from the fireplace. At its southern end we came upon a curved row of upright piles, most of which had the appearance of being dressed like square-cut beams, which penetrated deeply below the log pavement, and appeared to bound it in this direction. Amongst the relics found here were a pair of querns, portions of a wooden plate (Fig. 103), curious wooden implements (Figs. 118 and 119), a wooden hoe lying immediately above the log pavement, and close beside it some black vegetable substance like hair, and a few bone and horn implements. At its south-east corner we just touched the edge of a thick bed of ashes and bones, which will be described fully by and by.
We next removed a broad slice from the portion left standing to the west of the fireplace, and in consequence of certain peculiarities in the arrangement of numerous piles and horizontal beams observed at the north-west corner (see Fig. 40), we determined to remove altogether the broad ring now left between the outer trench and the space cleared in the interior.
It would be rather tedious to describe the various details of this work minutely; besides, it is not necessary in order to convey a general idea of the results obtained. It was a work of many weeks, of great toil and labour, and of much and varied comment by outsiders. One or two visits to the crannog seemed to satisfy the curiosity of most people. There were, however, a few gentlemen whose enthusiasm never fagged, amongst whom I have specially to mention Mr. James Blackwood, F.S.A. Scot., who by constant attendance and counsel rendered valuable aid in the successful accomplishment of these excavations. It will therefore be more convenient to arrange the further observations I have to make in detailing the progress of the excavations under the following heads:—
Fig. 40.—View of Wood-work at north-west corner.
1. Log pavement and its surrounding wooden structures.
2. Ash and bone refuse-bed.
