An object which has excited considerable curiosity is an apparatus made like a fringe by plaiting together at one end the long stems of a kind of moss ([Fig. 150]). Portions of similar articles were found in three different parts of the crannog and all deeply buried. One portion of this moss was plaited in four plies and shaped like a cue or pig-tail. It measured 17 inches long and 2 broad in the middle, and tapered to a point.
LOCHSPOUTS.
Lochspouts is a small lake basin, about three miles to the south-west of Maybole, somewhat oval in shape, and ensconced at the base of hilly ground, which encompasses it, except towards the north, where a narrow trap-dike runs across and cuts it off from the open valley beyond. It is thus a natural dam, formed in the face of a declivity, which, beyond the trap-ridge, still continues to slope rapidly downwards for a few hundred yards. No outlet could therefore at any time exist, except along this barrier, and an inspection of its present condition reveals several deep gashes through which at one time the surplus water made its escape. Indeed, some of the oldest inhabitants state that the name "Lochspouts" was given to it because, in former times, during heavy floods, its waters spouted across this ridge at different points. Within the recollection of some of them an artificial cutting was made through the rocky outlet, with the view of utilising its waters for a "walk-mill," an operation which reduced the level of the lake about ten feet, and its area to about two acres. A small island must have then appeared, but, apparently, its nature was unsuspected; and so it remained till 1879, when Mr. James Macfadzean recognised it as the site of an ancient lake-dwelling. This singular and, when surrounded by primeval forests, secluded little lake is now restored to its pristine dimensions; but its water, instead of acting as a defence to an island fortress, or propelling a primitive water-wheel, forms a reservoir for the domestic supply of the town of Maybole. The necessary alterations entailed by this transformation of the home of the crannog-builders—one of which was to clear out the accumulated débris of many a jovial feast in which, judging from the osseous remnants, pigs, oxen, and sheep were no rarity-came very opportunely, as it enabled archæologists to complete an investigation which was in the first instance initiated through the liberality of Sir James Fergusson, the proprietor.
The remains of the crannog, in the form of a low circular mound overgrown with coarse grass, lay at the north side of the lake, near the middle portion of the rocky ridge, and so close to the present margin that it formed a peninsula easily approached on terra firma.
At first the only possible investigation was to remove the débris down to the level of the water, and in the course of this operation the following facts were ascertained:—
(1) Composition of the Mound.—The surface of the mound was composed of coarse grass, having tough matted roots spreading in a thin layer of soil, which overlay about a foot and a half of stones and rubbish, in which no relics were found. Below this the materials were of a very variable character; sometimes vegetable mould, stems of grasses jointed like straw, and beds of heather and moss, which could readily be separated into layers; and at other times heaps of ashes and charcoal mixed with quantities of the shells of whelks, limpets, and hazel-nuts. Intermingled with this heterogeneous mass were large and small stones, broken bones, portions of deer-horns, and various relics. Though several ash-heaps were distinctly discernible in the vicinity of the hearths, no regular refuse-heap was met with; and the broken bones and horns seemed to be dispersed over the general area of the crannog.
(2) Log-Pavement.—About five feet deep (measuring from the centre of the mound), and only a few inches above the level of the surrounding water, there was exposed a rude, imperfect, and irregularly shaped wooden pavement, formed of flattened oak-beams. It covered only the central portion of the area contained within the circle of piles, the rest being laid with branches and stems of trees. On digging beneath this log-pavement large beams and brushwood were generally encountered, but the voluminous gushing up of water prevented reliable observations from being made regarding these deeper structures. Occasionally ashes and charcoal were turned up, and in one spot near the centre, and under my own inspection, the men succeeded in digging downwards more than two feet below the log-pavement before the water oozed up, in the course of which nothing was turned out but pure ashes, bits of charcoal, and large quantities of the shells of limpets and common whelks. At the bottom of this hole were solid oak-beams, apparently flattened; but no sooner were their surfaces exposed than the water rushed in and filled the trench. These observations gave rise to the conjecture that this understratum represented the accumulated débris of another, and, of course, an older, period of human occupancy—a conjecture which also derived some support from the fact that the surface of the log-pavement was on a higher level than the tops of the encircling piles.
(3) Hearths.—Over the log-pavement, and a few yards apart from each other, were three circular hearths, each about five feet in diameter, formed of flat stones embedded in a bed of yellow clay, and raised on a sort of pedestal composed of clay and stones, to the extent of one to one-and-a-half foot. One of them, on being demolished, was found to have been built directly over a former similarly constructed hearth, with an interval of about a foot. These hearths were situated near the centre of the crannog, but on its southern half—i.e. the semicircle farthest from the shore.
(4) Gangway.—On making a few trial trenches in the space directly between the shore and the crannog in search of a gangway, we could find no indications of woodwork. One day, however, my attention was directed to a portion of the log-pavement which looked like a wooden roadway projecting to the margin of the island, and pointing in a north-western direction, towards a prominence in the trap-ridge. Observing also, that, before the lake was lowered, this prominence would be the nearest land to the crannog, it immediately struck me that, if there was a gangway at all, it would be found along this line. Hypothesis was right this time. The adhesive nature of the lake sediment prevented the water from oozing up so quickly as it did on the crannog, so that we were enabled to expose the woodwork several feet below the level of the lake. Close to the crannog the upper beams of the gangway were about three feet below the surface of the grass; but as we neared the shore with the digging they became less buried, and some of the uprights were found even projecting above the ground.
The general plan on which this gangway was constructed appeared to be identical with that adopted by the crannog-builders of Lochlee. Upright piles, singly and in groups, were placed in a zig-zag fashion, between, and from which, the horizontal beams stretched, fan-like, and so formed a sort of latticework, with empty lozenge-shaped spaces between.