Cornagall.—Ante, p. [67].
Plate XLVIII.
Fig. 206.—General Plan of Drumkeery Lake. A—Island with Crannog. Scale 6 inches to one mile.
Fig. 207.—Plan of Promontory with Crannog. Scale, 1 inch to 60 feet.
Drumkeery Lough is situated two and a-half miles north of Bailieborough. In 1863 the level of this lake having been lowered, the fact became apparent that it had been, in olden times, the abode of a lacustrine population. [Plate XLVIII.], [fig. 206], shows the former extent and shape of the lake. Near its southern margin there was an oval-shaped island, converted into a peninsula by the change in the water-level. The aspect of the locality is described, and also represented in an outline sketch, by Professor Harkness, the original island being shown ([plate XLVIII.], [fig. 207]) by the portion marked [A], including the area [B], while the present peninsula is indicated by the letters [CCC]. The crannog was situated on the peninsula, and the approach to it had been from the south, as indicated by remains of a stockade of birch piles, [DD], extending from both sides of the entrance, whilst at the eastern corner of the latter was a large oak pile with a four-sided hole cut through it. Large vertical oak slabs, with interspaces of three feet between each pile, formed the sides of the entrance [EE], the interspaces filled in with smaller slabs of oak inclined outwards; the strong vertical piles had been well secured; on examination it was found that about nine feet of their length lay below the then surface. The floor of the entrance [F] was formed of large flat stones, and underlying this rude pavement were pieces of cleft oak. The area occupied by the crannog was an Irish acre—the longer axis being nearly north and south—and it was enclosed by piling composed principally of birch, retaining the bark. These birch poles, on the end inserted into the ground, had usually a wedge-shaped outline; some of the smaller trees seem to have been cut down by a single blow, and driven into the ground without further sharpening. Piles of oak which also occurred in the crannog were much better pointed, tapering regularly in some cases from their extremity for four feet upwards. Round oak piles were found in several parts of the stockade; whilst cleft oak was observed only at the entrance in one or two parts of the stockade, and in single piles here and there in the crannog. It has been computed that the number of piles used in forming and strengthening the construction must have exceeded 30,000. The stockade was composed of piles placed in close contiguity, without interspaces; and in the interior, near the piling, there was a layer of gravelly clay and large stones, varying from two inches to two feet in thickness, its object being to give a uniform level; and this comparatively narrow space was the only artificially elevated portion of surface in the crannog, which differed from most others previously met with in Ireland, in apparently not having required to be raised above the water; but there is evidence of the level having risen five and a-half feet since the period of its occupation. At the northern extremity of what had been the crannog was a space about a rood and a-half in size, [B], occupied by fragments of burnt bones and charcoal—the kitchen midden of the place. This deposit, nine inches in thickness, rested upon the natural surface of the island, of which the entire area [AB] was flat, and before the lake was lowered stood two and a-half feet above the ordinary level. On the north side the supports for a landing-stage, [H], were composed of two rows of piles that ran obliquely outwards from the girdle of piling [G]; and on the east side was another series of double piling, [I], the piles about three and a-half feet apart, and they differed from the formation on the N.W. in extending inwards from the main stockade. Opposite to this, and firmly embedded in the oozy bottom of the lake, was seen a single-piece canoe, [J], formed out of an oak trunk; the double row of piling extending inwards doubtless enclosed a “dock” destined to receive and secure the canoe when not in use.[220]
On the north side of the lough, nearly opposite this crannog, there were traces of another of smaller size. Birch and round piles of oak were distinctly recognizable; these occurred also at various intervals along the margin of the water, indicating the former existence of several lake dwellings. Along the shore have been discovered traces of many ancient fireplaces[221] more than six inches above the present surface of the lake, but five and a-half feet below its level previous to drainage; the largest of these consisted of a heap, thirteen feet in diameter, of small flattish, angular-shaped stones resting on peat; the small stones had a reddish colour, and consisted of fragments of greywacke shale. Immediately contiguous to this heap of small stones was another, about four feet in diameter, made up of large stones, some a foot and a-half in breadth. These larger blocks exhibited no trace of the action of fire which had given to the smaller fragments their red colour.[222]