Fig. 139.—Perpendicular Section through the Three lowest Hearths.
About the middle of the northern half of the log-pavement was found a remarkable series of four hearths, or fire-places, superimposed one above the other. The lowest was placed a little above the log-pavement, and had a layer of stones, clay, and earth intervening between it and the wood. About one and a half foot higher there was a second hearth; at a similar interval, a third; and at 2½ feet still higher, a fourth. These hearths were formed of small boulders laid closely together, like a stone causeway, embedded in, and surrounded by, a layer of clay ([Fig. 139]). They were oval or circular in shape and about four feet in diameter. The corresponding layers of clay extended considerably beyond the limits of the hearths around which they appeared to form a flooring. The third hearth (counting from below upwards) had been more elaborately constructed than the others, and it was surrounded by a number of stumps of stout uprights which no doubt were the remains of a secondary building, as their lower ends did not penetrate much beyond the level of the hearth. The space underneath the clay bed corresponding to this hearth, and extending downwards to the log-pavement, was, next to the refuse heap, the most prolific in relics. In it were found, about the level of the second fire-place, nearly the entire skeletons of two animals like a goat or sheep, the skulls of which had short horn-cores attached to them.
Gangway.—Beyond the midden, outside the island, the tops of a few piles were detected, and upon making exploratory excavations, these turned out to be the remains of a gangway. As this structure was very peculiar and somewhat comparable to the wooden structures described by Virchow and others in the German Pfahlbauten, I will here quote my original description of it in extenso. (See plan and sections, facing [page 416]):—
"We commenced this inquiry by excavating a rectangular space, 30 feet long, 16 feet broad, and 3 to 4 feet deep, in the line of direction indicated by the piles, and exposed quite a forest of oak stakes. Other trenches were then made with exactly similar results. The stakes thus revealed did not at first appear to conform to any systematic arrangement, but by-and-by we detected, in addition to six single piles, small groups of three, four, and five, here and there at short intervals. This observation, however, conveyed little or no meaning, so that we could form no opinion as to the manner in which they were used. Up to this point no trace of mortised beams was anywhere to be seen. In all these trenches the stuff dug up was of the same character. First or uppermost was a bed of fine clay rather more than 2 feet thick, and then a soft dark substance formed of decomposed vegetable matter. The source of the latter was evident from the occurrence in its upper stratum of large quantities of leaves, some stems, branches, and the roots of stunted trees in situ. The tops of the piles in the trench next the crannog were from 2 to 3 feet below the surface of the field, but they rose gradually as we receded from the crannog, and in the trench next the shore one or two were found on a level with the grass. About 4 feet deep the stuff at the bottom of the trench was so soft that a man could scarcely stand on it without sinking ankle-deep. It was not nearly so heavy as the upper strata, but more adhesive, and of a nutty-brown colour, which, on exposure, quickly turned dark. Notwithstanding the flabbiness of this material, the piles felt quite firm, and this fact, together with the experience derived from our examination of the deeper structures of the island, led to the supposition that the piles must terminate in some more solid basis than had yet been made apparent. To remove all doubts on this point, though a long iron rod could be easily pushed downwards without meeting any resistance, we ordered a large deep shaft to be dug in the line of the piles, and the cutting nearest the crannog was selected for this purpose. This was accomplished with much difficulty, but we were amply rewarded by coming upon an elaborate system of woodwork, which I found no less difficult to comprehend than it now is to describe. The first horizontal beam was reached about 7 feet deep, and for other 3 feet we passed through a complete network of similar beams, lying in various directions. Below this—i.e. 10 feet from the surface—the workmen could find no more beams and the lake silt became harder and more friable. We then cleared a larger area, so as, if possible, to exhibit the structural arrangement of the woodwork. The reason of grouping the piles now became apparent. The groups were placed in a somewhat zig-zag fashion near the sides of the gangway, and from each there radiated a series of horizontal beams, the ends of which crossed each other and were kept in position by the uprights. One group was carefully inspected. The first or lowest beam observed was right across, the next lay lengthways and of course at right angles to the former, then three or four spread out diagonally like a fan, and terminated in other groups at the opposite side of the gangway, and lastly, one again lay lengthways. Thus each beam raised the level of the general structure the exact height of its thickness, though large lozenge-shaped spaces remained in the middle quite clear of any beams. The general breadth of the portion of this unique structure examined was about 10 feet (but an isolated pile was noticed farther out), and its thickness varied from 3 to 4 feet. A large oak plank, some 10 feet long, showing the marks of the sharp-cutting instrument by which it was formed, was found lying on edge at its west side, and beyond the line of piles, but otherwise no remains of a platform were seen. All the beams and stakes were made of oak, and so thoroughly bound together that, though not a single joint, mortise, or pin was discovered, the whole fabric was as firm as a rock. No relics were found in any of the excavations along the line of this gangway." (B. 373, pp. 99-101.)
Structure of the Island.—Having now collected the chief facts regarding the log-pavement, its surrounding structures and superincumbent materials, we determined to sink a shaft about the centre of the crannog for the purpose of ascertaining, if possible, the thickness, composition, and mode of structure, of the island itself. This shaft was rectangular in form, and large enough to allow three men to work in it together. (See plan and sections, [page 416].) After removing the three or four layers of oak planks which constituted this portion of the log-pavement, we came upon a thin layer of brushwood, and then large trunks of trees laid in regular beds or layers, each layer having its logs lying parallel to each other, but transversely or sometimes obliquely to those of the layer immediately above or below it. At the west end of the trench, after removing the first and second layers of the log-pavement, we found part of a small canoe hollowed out of an oak trunk, evidently part of an old worn-out one, thus economised and used instead of a prepared log. Much progress in this kind of excavation was by no means an easy task, as it was necessary to keep two men constantly pumping the water which copiously flowed from all directions into the trench, and even then there always remained some at the bottom. As we advanced downwards we encountered layer upon layer of the trunks of trees with the branches closely chopped off, and so soft that the spade easily cut through them. Birch was the prevailing kind of wood, but, occasionally, beams of oak were found with holes at their extremities, through which pegs of oak penetrated into other holes in the logs beneath. One such peg, some three or four inches in diameter, was found to pass through no less than four beams in successive layers, and to terminate ultimately in a round trunk over thirteen inches in diameter. One of the oak beams was extracted entire, and measured 8 feet 3 inches in length and 10 inches in breadth, and the holes in it were 5 feet apart. Others had small round projecting bars, which fitted into mortised holes in adjacent beams. Down to a depth of about four feet the logs ware rudely split, but below this they were round rough trunks, with the bark still adhering to them. Their average diameter would be from six inches to one foot, and amongst them were some curiously gnarled stems occasionally displaying large knotty protuberances. Of course, in the act of digging the trench the wood was cut up into fragments, and, on being uncovered, its fibres had a natural and even fresh-like appearance, but in a few minutes after exposure to the air the freshly cut pieces became as black as ink. Amongst the débris thrown up from a depth of 6 feet below the log-pavement I picked up the larger portion of a broken hammer-stone or polisher, which, from the worn appearance presented by its fractured edges, must have been used subsequently to its breakage. After considerable labour, when indeed the probability of total discomfiture in reaching the bottom was freely talked of, our most energetic foreman at last announced, after cutting through a large flat trunk 14 inches thick, that underneath this he could find no trace of further woodwork. The substance removed from below the lowest logs consisted of a few twigs of hazel brushwood, embedded in a dark, firm, but friable and somewhat peaty soil, which we concluded to be the silt of the lake deposited before the foundations of the crannog were laid. The depth of this solid mass of woodwork, measuring from the surface of the log-pavement, was 9 feet 10 inches, or about sixteen feet from the surface of the field. Amongst the very last spadefuls pitched from this depth was found nearly one half of a well-formed and polished ring made of shale, the external and internal diameters of which were 3½ and 2 inches respectively.
RELICS FROM LOCHLEE.
Stone.—Several hammer-stones and sling-stones, etc. Five whetstones or hones of the ordinary form. They are made of hard clay-stone or sometimes fine sandstone, and vary in length from 5 to 7 inches. One 6¼ inches long has a groove running nearly its whole length ([Fig. 140]). A large oval pebble of white quartz used as an anvil. A flat circular stone, 3 inches in diameter and 1⅜ inch thick, shaped like a cheese. One stone celt made of a hard mottled greenstone ([Fig. 141]). Five upper and some bits of lower millstones or querns, mostly of granite. The former are all somewhat elongated, with a funnel-shaped hole in the centre and generally a small round hole near the margin, as seen in the accompanying illustration. Two cup-marked stones, one with two concentric circles ([Fig. 141]). One spindle-whorl of stone and three of clay ([Fig. 141]). Two flint flakes and one scraper ([Fig. 141]). Several worked portions of stones.
Fig. 140.—Hone, 6¼ inches long.