Fig. 171.—Fragments of Pottery (2⁄3).
STONE LAKE-DWELLINGS AND OTHER ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS.
But besides the wooden islands there are others, still extant in several of our Scottish lakes, which appear to be composed entirely of stones and earth irregularly heaped together. In the absence of any historical knowledge as to their age there is no prima facie reason why some of these should not be contemporary with the former, as it cannot be assumed that the crannog-builders made wood a sine quâ non in the structure of islands. There were, no doubt, certain stagnant marshes and small lochs in which a wooden foundation was essential for the construction of an island, owing to the softness and yielding nature of the mud; but, on the other hand, there were others with compact rocky or gravelly beds, in which any solid materials, as stones, earth, turf, etc., would be equally applicable. The outlets of the larger lakes, more especially such as were formed in glacial and rock-cut basins, were more adapted for the latter, and as far as my observations have enabled me to form an opinion, these are the very situations in which the lake stone-dwellings abound. Some of them are mere shapeless cairns, without any indications of having been formerly inhabited, while on others some remains of stone buildings are to be seen. As to wooden huts or houses, had such structures ever been erected on them, it is not likely that they could, for any length of time, have resisted the decaying tendencies of atmospheric agencies, so that all traces of them would have disappeared long ago.
The social or military exigencies that led people to construct artificial islands would also lead them to take advantage of such natural ones as would be found most suitable, and we may reasonably infer that it is in the absence of the latter that the former would be resorted to. The great and primary object of the island-builder was the protection afforded by the surrounding lake or morass, the securing of which has continued to be the ruling principle in the erection of defensive works down to the Middle Ages, long after the wooden islands ceased to be constructed. The transition from the crannog to the massive mediæval castle, with its moat and drawbridge, is but a stage in the progressive march of civilisation.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF SCOTTISH LAKE-DWELLINGS.
To these remarks on the structural details of a few typical crannogs, as disclosed by systematic research, I subjoin a tabulated list of all the sites hitherto recognised in Scotland, comprising not only the artificial islands, whether of wood or other materials, but also some natural ones known to have been artificially strengthened, as well as a few examples of castles, etc., now or formerly located in bogs or drained marshes.
LIST OF SCOTTISH CRANNOGS
ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED,
WITH NOTES AND REFERENCES.
| N.B.—An obelisk (†) before a name inthis text indicates that the island is, in whole or in part, constructedof wood. N.S.A. or O.S.A. stand for New or Old StatisticalAccount of Scotland. | ||
† | Achilty L., co. Ross. N. S. A., vol. xiv. p. 238. | |
| Achray L., co. Perth. B. 94, pp. 172-7. | ||
| † | Airrieoulland, co. Wigtown. B. 426. | |
| Ard L., co. Perth. O. S. A., vol. x. p. 130. | ||
| [102] | † | Arisaig L., co. Inverness. B. 150, p. 576. |
| † | Banchory (L. of the Leys), co. Aberdeen. Proc. S. A. Scot., vol. i. p. 26; vol. vi. p. 126. | |
| † | Barean L., co. Kirkcudbright. B. 373, p. 37, and Dumf. and G. N. H. Soc., 1865. | |
| † | Barhapple L., co. Wigtown. "Ayr and Wig. Col.," vols. iii. and v.; B. 373; B. 192. | |
| [103] | † | Barlockhart L., co. Wigtown. Proc. S. A. Scot., vol. xi. p. 583; vol. xv. p. 267. |
| † | Barnsallzie L., co. Wigtown. Ibid., vol. ix. p. 377. | |
| Battleknowes, co. Berwick. N. S. A., vol. ii. p. 171. | ||
| [104] | † | Black Cairn, Beauly Firth, co. Ross. "Hill Forts and Stone Circles of Scotland," p. 89; N. S. A., vol. xvii. p. 350. |
| † | Boghall (Beith), co. Ayr. N. S. A., vol. v. p. 580. | |
| Borgue, co. Kirkcudbright. N. S. A., vol. iv. p. 54. | ||
| Brora L., co. Sutherland. O. S. A., vol. x. p. 303; N. S. A., vol. xv. p. 151. | ||
| [105] | † | Bruich L. (Beauly), co. Ross. B. 442. |
| † | Buston, co. Ayr. "Ayr and Wig. Col.," vol. iii.; B. 373. | |
| † | Canmor (Kinord) L., co. Aberdeen. B. 94, pp. 167-71. | |
| [106] | † | Carlingwark L., two crannogs, co. Kirkcudbright. O. S. A., vol. viii. p. 304; B. 94, p. 126; Proc. S. A. Scot., vol. vii. p. 7, and x. p. 286. |
| † | Castle Loch, co. Wigtown. Rev. G. Wilson's "Notes." | |
| Castletown, co. Roxburgh. N. S. A., vol. iii. p. 164. | ||
 Fig. 172.—A large Bronze Cauldron from Carlingwark Loch. | ||
Closeburn, co. Dumfries. Phil. Trans., 1756, p. 521; Grose, "Ant. of Scot.," vol. i. p. 150. | ||
| Clunie L., co. Perth. O. S. A., vol. ix. p. 231. | ||
| Collessie, co. Fife. O. S. A., vol. ii. p. 418. | ||
| † | Corncockle (Applegarth), co. Dumfries. B. 94, p. 163. | |
| † | Cot L., co. Linlithgow. Ibid., p. 159. | |
| [107] | † | Croy, co. Inverness. N. S. A., vol. xiv. p. 448. |
| † | Dhu Loch, co. Bute. B. 21, p. 43. | |
| Dolay L., co. Sutherland. B. 94, pp. 172-7. | ||
| Doon L., co. Ayr. N. S. A., vol. v. p. 337. | ||
| † | Dowalton, five crannogs, co. Wigtown. B. 56, 94, 373, and 426. | |
| Earn L., co. Perth. O. S. A., vol. xi. p. 180. | ||
| Eldrig L., three crannogs, co. Wigtown. Rev. G. Wilson's "Notes." | ||
| [108] | † | Eriska, co. Argyll. B. 427, p. 192. |
| Fasnacloich (Appin), co. Argyll. B. 94, p. 175. | ||
| Federatt, co. Aberdeen. O. S. A., vol. ix. p. 191. | ||
| Fell L., co. Wigtown. B. 192, vol. ix. p. 378. | ||
| [109] | Fergus L., co. Kirkcudbright. O. S. A., vol. xi. p. 25. | |
| † | Flemington, L., co. Nairn. B. 55, p. 118. | |
| Forfar, Loch of, co. Forfar. B. 1; O. S. A., vol. vi. p. 528; B. 94, p. 125; B. 216, p. 31. | ||
| Freuchie L., co. Perth. B. 94, p. 173. | ||
| † | Friar's Carse, co. Dumfries. B. 373, p. 152, and B. 374, p. 73. | |
| Fullah L., co. Perth. B. 94, p. 172. | ||
| Glass L., co. Ross. O. S. A., vol. i. p. 282. | ||
| Granech L., co. Perth. B. 94, p. 177. | ||
| † | Green Knowe, co. Lanark. N. S. A., vol. vi. p. 346; Proc. S. A. S., vol. vi. p. 160, and vol. viii. p. 19. | |
| Gynag L., co. Inverness. N. S. A., vol. xiv. p. 65. | ||
| Heron L., two islands, co. Wigtown. B. 192, vol. ix. p. 378. | ||
| Hogsetter L., Shetland. Proc. S. A. Scot. vol. xv. p. 303. | ||
| [110] | † | Kielziebar L., co. Argyll. B. 134, pp. 332 and 516. |
| † | Kilbirnie L., co. Ayr. B. 268, p. 284. | |
| Kilchonan, co. Argyll. O. S. A., vol. xi. p. 281. | ||
| [111] | † | Kinder L., co. Kirkcudbright. Old. S. A., vol. ii. p. 139. |
| † | Kinellan L., co. Ross. N. S. A., vol. xiv. p. 238; B. 94, p. 126. | |
| Laggan L., co. Perth. O. S. A., vol. xviii. p. 327. | ||
| [112] | † | Ledaig, co. Argyll. B. 190. |
| [113] | † | Leven L., co. Kinross. B. 460, p. 118. |
| † | Loch-of-the-Clans, two crannogs, co. Nairn. B. 55, pp. 116 and 332. | |
| † | Loch-in-Dunty, co. Nairn. B. 55, p. 118. | |
| [114] | † | Loch-inch-Cryndil, co. Wigtown. B. 212, pp. 381 and 388. |
 Fig. 173.—Wooden Comb from Ledaig (2⁄3). | ||
† | Lochindorb, co. Moray. O. S. A., vol. vii. p. 259. | |
| † | Lochlee, co. Ayr. "Ayr and Wig. Col.," vol. ii.; B. 331 and 373. | |
| † | Lochmaben, co. Dumfries. B. 94, p. 160; Arch. Scot., vol. iii. p. 77. | |
| † | Loch-na-Mial, Island of Mull. B. 172, p. 465. | |
| † | Lochnell, co. Argyll. B. 190, vol. ix. p. 105. | |
| † | Lochore, co. Fife. B. 94, p. 160. | |
| † | Lochrutton, co. Kirkcudbright. O. S. A., vol. ii. p. 37. | |
| † | Lochspouts, co. Ayr. "Ayr and Wig. Col.," vol. iii. p. 18; iv. p. 9; B. 373, pp. 158 and 305. | |
| Lochwood, co. Dumfries. O. S. A., vol. iv. p. 224. | ||
| [115] | † | Lochy L., co. Inverness. B. 94, p. 160. |
| [116] | † | Lomond L., co. Sterling. Ibid., p. 131. |
| † | Lotus L., co. Kirkcudbright. Proc. S. A. Scot., vol. xi. p. 21. | |
| [117] | Machermore L., several crannogs, co. Wigtown. B. 192. | |
| † | Merton L., co. Wigtown. B. 94, p. 123. | |
| Mochrum L., co. Wigtown. B. 192. | ||
| Monivaird L., co. Perth. O. S. A., vol. viii. p. 570. | ||
| Morall L., co. Perth. B. 94, p. 176. | ||
 Fig. 174.—Bone Comb from Crannog in Loch-inch-Cryndil (1⁄1). | ||
Morton, co. Dumfries. N. S. A., vol. iv. p. 96. | ||
| Moulin L., drained, co. Perth. O. S. A., vol. v. p. 69. | ||
| Mountblairy, co. Moray. O. S. A., vol. iv. p. 399. | ||
| † | Moy L., Ellan-na-Glack, co. Inverness. N. S. A., vol. xiv. p. 100; B. 94, p. 129. | |
| [118] | † | Oban (Lochavoullin), co. Argyll. |
| Orr L., co. Dumfries. O. S. A., vol. ii. p. 342. | ||
| Peel Bog, co. Aberdeen. N. S. A., vol. xii. p. 1089. | ||
| † | Quien Loch, co. Bute. B. 21, p. 45. | |
| † | Rannoch L., co. Perth. N. S. A., vol. x. p. 539; B. 94, p. 129. | |
| † | Ravenstone L., co. Wigtown. B. 426, p. 121. | |
| Rescobie L., co. Forfar. B. 94, p. 176. | ||
| † | Rothiemurchus, Loch-an-Eilan, co. Moray. N. S. A., vol. xiii. p. 137; B. 94, p. 145. | |
 Fig. 175.—Stone Ring (1⁄1) and Stone Implement with a hollow surface on each side (1⁄2). | ||
[119] | † | Sanquhar, Black Loch of, co. Dumfries. Proc. Dumf. and Gal. N. H. Soc., 1863-4, p. 12, and B. 373, p. 36. |
| Shin L., co. Sutherland. B. 94, pp. 172-7. | ||
| † | Spinie L., co. Moray. O. S. A., vol. x. p. 625. | |
| Stravithy, co. Fife. N. S. A., vol. ix. p. 365. | ||
| † | Sunonness L., co. Wigtown. B. 192, p. 738. | |
| Tay L., co. Perth. B. 94, p. 173; O. S. A., vol. xvii. p. 465; N. S. A., vol. x. p. 465. | ||
| † | Tolsta, Lewis, co. Ross. Proc. S. A. S., vol. x. p. 741. | |
| Torlundie, drained loch at, co. Inverness. Proc. S. A. Scot., vol. vii. p. 519. | ||
| † | Tullah L., co. Perth. B. 94, p. 172. | |
| Tummell L., co. Perth. O. S. A., vol. ii. p. 475; B. 94, p. 129. | ||
| Urr L., co. Dumfries. B. 94, p. 160. | ||
| Vennachar L., co. Dumfries. B. 94, p. 177. | ||
| Weyoch L., co. Wigtown. B. 192. | ||
| Yetholm L., co. Rosburgh. N. S. A., vol. iii. p. 164. | ||