"As the trench is not exactly in a line with the piles, several are now left standing and partially exposed. In this portion of the digging we found several bones of animals, a peculiar grinding-stone of whinstone or granite, almost semicircular in shape, 12 inches long by 7 broad, a flint core, a stone with the centre hollowed, a hammer-stone, and two fragments of rude pottery.
"Hazel nuts are numerous; several I have picked out appear to have been opened by squirrels."
The drain appears to have intersected the woodwork, and as the excavations were confined to one side, the exact dimensions of the lake-dwelling cannot be stated. Its length was approximately about 70 feet, and its breadth probably one-third less. On my first inspection of the locality after these excavations had been completed I was struck with the narrowness of the lacustrine area in which the structure was reared. From the nature of the adjacent ground it was readily seen that the lake widened very considerably both above and below; but here it was so contracted that the woodwork appeared to occupy the entire breadth of the waterway—a fact which suggested to me the idea of its being a bridge or military stronghold. However, on closer inspection I saw that the accumulation of rain-wash had considerably encroached on the original bed of the lake, and I am satisfied that there would be, in former times, sufficient space for giving to the dwelling a complete insular character.
The following relics, now in the possession of Mr. Boynton, were collected in the course of the investigations:—
Horn and Bone.—The perforated bone implements ([Fig. 176a], Nos. 1 and 2), of which not less than eighteen were collected, are the most remarkable objects. They all consist of the articulate extremities of the long bones of some large bovine animals, with the exception of two, one of which was the thick end of a scapula and the other a cervical vertebra. The latter was not manipulated, and the reason it is here classified as an implement is that a portion of a wooden handle, which had been inserted into the spinal aperture, still remained. In this manner the vertebra became a formidable weapon, which, when used as a club or skull-cracker, could scarcely be matched by any work of art. I am of opinion that all these perforated bone implements were simply warlike weapons. Three handpicks, made from the horns of the red deer—the brow antler forming the pick and the body of the horn, stripped of its antlers, the handle. Also a club, or broken pick, and several portions of worked tines.
Fig. 176a.—Holderness. All 1⁄2 real size.
Stone.—Three hammer-stones of natural pebbles; two anvils, one flat and circular and the other having a slight cavity on one side; six polishers, or rubbers; two flint cores, and about 50 substantial-looking flakes. One flake was a good example of a knife, and showed evidence of having been used; three other flakes were secondarily chipped and converted into neat scrapers and a saw (No. 3).
Bronze and Jet.—One bronze spear-head (No. 4), and a fragment of a jet arm-band, like those from the Ayrshire crannogs.