Fig. 112.—Ballinderry and Strokestown. Bone objects. All 2⁄3 real size.
It is suggested by Mr. Graves that the curious scorings on these pins are of the nature of Ogham and Runic writing ([Figs. 110] and [111]), but special authorities who have examined them do not support this theory. Moreover, I doubt the genuineness of both the pins and amulets.
LOUGH FAUGHAN.
Rev. Charles Archbold, writing of a crannog in Lough Faughan, county Down, says:—
Fig. 113.—Lough Faughan.
Earthenware Jug,
13 inches high.
"I found that the island was in a great measure, if not altogether, artificial. There were large stakes driven into the ground, and completely enclosing the space within, but not rising above the surface, so as to form a palisade, but evidently for the purpose of keeping in the soil from the encroachment of the water. The tradition respecting it is, that there had been a castle on the shore opposite, the chieftain of which caused this island to be made as a place of refuge from the sudden onslaughts of the O'Neills; and to render this retreat more secure he would never allow more than one boat or canoe on the lake. During the drainage of the lake some years ago, a canoe formed out of a solid piece of oak was found near the island." A jug of excellent workmanship was found on this crannog ([Fig. 113]). (B. 18, p. 224.)
DISCOVERIES BY BOARD OF WORKS.
But the greatest discoveries were due to the workings of the Commission for the Arterial Drainage and Inland Navigation of Ireland, which brought no less than twenty-two additional crannogs to light in the counties of Roscommon, Leitrim, Cavan, and Monaghan. Reports of these crannogs by the engineers of the Board of Works, with plans, maps, and sections of the more important ([Figs. 114] and [115]), as well as the relics collected on them, were given to the Royal Irish Academy. Unfortunately these relics are now indiscriminately mixed with other Irish antiquities, and are virtually beyond identification.