The larger crannog, separated from the mainland by a shallow channel, was in summer accessible by a narrow causeway. In one of its mounds—principally composed of ashes—were leaden bullets, sharpening-stones, and implements of iron; on its shores a flint spear-head and bronze pins; on the edges of the lake close by, flint arrow-heads, hatchets, &c., all of which, found at about the same level, were certainly submerged until the drainage works permanently reduced the height of the lake by several feet. Bullets discovered in these crannogs prove that they were occupied up to a comparatively late date.[214]
Cargaghoge.—Ante, p. [42].
Glaslough, or Erny Lough.—Ante, p. [151].
Lisanisk.—Ante, p. [151].
Lough-na-glack.—Ante, p. [81]. Two bronze instruments, supposed to have been used for piscatory purposes, were found in connexion with this crannog, also several beads of amber and blue glass; a comb and three pins made of bone; an iron dagger fifteen inches in length; several primitive iron plough-coulters; fragments of iron instruments (use unknown); a long gun-barrel, or caliver; part of the lock of a pistol, and many bullets of lead.[215]
Lough Mucknoe.—Ante, p. [151].
Lough Monnachin.—Ante, p. [151].
Lough Rouskey.—Ante, p. [151].
Monalty (near Lisanisk).—The first mention of the discovery of various ancient relics in a small artificial island in this lake was made by Mr. Shirley. There was a canoe (hollowed out of a single piece of oak), measuring twenty-four feet in length, also stone and bronze celts, spear-heads, needles, pins, &c., from all which it would seem that here had been one of the strongholds of the chiefs of the district. This crannog—afterwards explored by G. Morant—is situated close to the shore, and during the low state of the water in the year 1863, it became accessible by wading over a few yards of mud. When searching on the exposed side of the island a jewelled ornament was perceived, slightly projecting above the gravel, stones, and mud of which the beach was composed. This proved to be a rock crystal, oval in shape, and set transparently; the crystal, with its silver setting, measured two and a-half inches in length, by one and three-quarter inches across, and was much corroded on the front; the little points were surrounded with a cable-twist, as was also the setting. It was pronounced by a competent authority to be a work of the fourteenth or fifteenth century. Lying on the surface of the boggy soil was another antique, considered to be a harp-pin; it was of highly-finished work in bronze, the barrel having within it indications of rust.[216] The crannog had been searched long previously by a man who made a trade of selling antiquities, so that the good fortune of discovering these curiosities must be attributed to the fact of the water-level having been so exceptionally low in the year 1863.
Rahan’s Lake is situated near Carrickmacross, and here in 1863 the hearth of a crannog was uncovered; on it were found a quantity of ashes, together with five Queen Mary shillings, fused into a mass, probably by the conflagration which had consumed the dwelling. A bronze pin, a flat spear-head, and stone celt, were also brought to light.[217]