From one of these holes, or meshes, some five feet below the surface of the ground, a fine granite quern-stone was extracted. The piles projected some two feet or more above the body of the gangway; but there was no appearance of a subaqueous or superaqueous platform. It would thus appear that its upper transverses were originally under water—a remark equally applicable to the analogous remains at Lochlee—but to what depth the wooden structures reached could not be ascertained.
Further Excavations.—In order to facilitate the projected operations of clearing out the bed of the lake the Engineers of the Maybole Waterworks caused the rocky outlet to be cut down to the extent of 3 feet, which thus enabled them to remove a corresponding section of the crannog. The result of this was to show, as was conjectured from the facts ascertained in the previous explorations, that there was, about 2½ feet underneath the log-pavement and its hearths already described, another habitable zone with its log-pavement, mortised beams, etc., together with various relics of human industry. It would appear that this was the original surface of the crannog, as it corresponded with the surrounding stockades, some of which were found in position. Others were seen among a heap of wood collected from the excavated débris, amongst which were a few of the ordinary transverses containing square-cut holes at their extremities. One thick beam was deeply grooved and resembled the one found at Lochlee. (See [Fig. 138].) A few large flat planks, having a round handle-like projection some 18 inches long at one end, had only one square-cut hole, placed sometimes close to this handle, and at other times at the opposite extremity. Another stout oak beam, 6 feet long, contained a series of round holes about an inch in diameter, and from 5 to 6 inches apart. The holes, which were on the broad side of the beam, were about two inches in depth, but only penetrated half through it, and from one of them a portion of a wooden pin was extracted. This beam was in a fragmentary condition, being, like many others, partially charred.
RELICS.
Stone.—About a barrowful of hammer-stones and round pebbles from 1 to 6 inches in diameter. Polishers and whetstones also, numerous, the latter sometimes perforated for suspension. Three portions of sandstone had each a circular perforation funnel-shaped on both sides. Twelve quern stones, nearly all made of granite, of which nine or ten are the upper stones. One spindle-whorl 1¾ inch in diameter. Two polished discs, one being the segment of a circle ([Fig. 151]), are supposed to have been used as mirrors. An oval implement with two hollowed surfaces like the one represented on [Fig. 175]; its length is 3¼ inches, breadth 2⅝, and thickness 1 inch. The cup-shaped cavities are too large for mere finger-marks. It is made of a hard grey trap rock and, though well wrought all over, is not polished, nor does it exhibit any markings such as are seen on the ordinary hammer-stones. Two flint scrapers, one of which is here figured ([Fig. 151]).
Fig. 151.—Stone Disc (1⁄2) and Flint Scraper (1⁄1).
Bone and Horn.—A pin, chisel ([Fig. 152]), awl, two pointers, and a knife-handle are of bone. Of horn there are also only a few objects, as a pick, club, and some pointed implements of the tines of staghorn.
Wood.—No specific object, except the stave of a vessel like that of a milk cog, was found in the earlier explorations; but from the lowest stratum there were some curious wooden implements. (See B. 373, p. 310.)