12. An iron shears, 61⁄4 inches long (Fig. 138), was discovered on the site of the crannog by Captain William Gillon, 71st Highland Light Infantry, F.S.A. Scot. In presenting this shears, along with the hone-stone (Fig. 54), to the "National Collection," Captain Gillon thus describes the circumstances which led him to its discovery: "Having been in Ayrshire for the last five months, and within a short distance of Lochlee farm, I have had several opportunities of visiting the site of the crannog, which was discovered there in 1878, and has since proved so rich in relics.... Although the crannog had been filled up, I determined to visit the site in the hope of finding some stray relic which might have escaped the eye of former explorers. In February 1881, Mr. Drummond, farmer, Pockenave, went with me, and as he had been present at the previous excavations, he showed me the most likely place for a 'find.'
"After looking about for half an hour, I was lucky enough to find the shears, which I forwarded to Professor Duns for examination, as I did not observe any articles similar to this in the Museum of Kilmarnock. On a subsequent occasion I found the hone-stone. I did not notice any hone-stones with a like groove in the Kilmarnock Museum, but on driving out to the crannog which is being excavated at Buston, near Kilmaurs, Dr. Munro showed me one which was of the same nature as the one I had found, only the groove was shorter and across the stone, and it had in addition a 'cupped hollow' in the centre, while this one has the groove lengthways." (See Fig. 54.)—Proceed. Soc. Antiq. Scot. vol. iii. new series, p. 247.[26]
13. Fig. 46 (p. 96) represents portion of a much corroded hatchet, about 6 inches long and 2 broad immediately below socket, but gets wider towards the cutting edge. Thickness through centre of socket is 11⁄2 inch. The back of socket was round, and had no projecting portion. Total weight 121⁄2 ounces. It had a small bit of the wooden handle in the socket when found.
14. A curved portion of iron, like part of a door staple, found amongst débris, but locality undetermined.
Fig. 138.—Shears (61⁄4 inches). Fig. 139.—Iron (1⁄5).
15. A curious three-pronged implement (Fig. 139) was found, about 3 feet deep, in the large drain a few yards to the south of crannog; the prongs are curved, very sharp at the points, and attached laterally; they are 21⁄2 inches apart and 4 inches long; a portion of the handle is twisted spirally; its total length is 3 feet 9 inches.
Fig. 140.—Fibula (1⁄1).