Plates [XXXIII.] and [XXXIV.] contain representations of miscellaneous crannog “finds” from Randalstown and Lough Guile, county Antrim, and Ballykinler, county Down: when not otherwise specified the articles are from the first-named locality. [Plate XXXIII., 1], a piece of pottery (¼ size) that seems to have formed part of an earthen vessel; it is coarse, strong, well made, and graceful in design; other fragments were met with, and judging from the appearance of fire on the outside of one, it had been used for cooking purposes. [2.] A remarkable object of granite (½ size); two of similar form were found at Ballykinler crannog. [3.] A paddle or oar made of oak, its length 3 feet 7 inches by 4½ inches in breadth. [4.] A wooden scoop; total length 12 inches, the handle 4 inches, thickness 1½. [5.] A wooden vessel found with a canoe; its diameter 7 inches, depth 3, and thickness 1 inch; it would be adapted for baling out a boat. [6] seems to be a netting needle (½ size); it is made of iron. [7.] A battle-axe; length from face to end of projection at back 7 inches, length of face 5½ inches, breadth 1 inch at the one end, and at the other 1½ inches. [8.] Iron sock of a plough; length 7½ inches, greatest breadth 4 inches; it terminates in a point.
The following objects are all drawn one-half size:—[9.] A knife, the only specimen met with at Ballykinler crannog, having a handle. The haft is of goat’s horn, and the blade like a penknife of large size; it does not seem applicable to any ordinary domestic purpose, but it may have been used for bleeding or operating on animals. [10.] A wooden instrument—of which two were found—made of soft, long-grained wood of the pine kind; they might have been used for coarse knitting. [11.] An instrument of similar wood, use unknown. [12.] There were several like [No. 12], formed of soft wood; they might have served as fastenings for mantle or hair. [13.] An instrument of bone, neatly made and polished, which might have been used as a pin. [14.] A pin, made of a close-grained, hard, white wood, probably holly; several of these were brought to light. [15.] An article of iron, use unknown. [16.] A pin of iron; several of these were found. [17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23], are pins of bronze. There were a great number resembling [No. 17], also several of [No. 19]. [24.] A large button made of bronze; the eyes are not fastened in but cast. [25.] A crucible, seemingly of foreign manufacture, and unused; but several were met with greatly calcined. [26, 27, 28], seem to be fastenings for leather or other garments; they are of very thin bronze. [29] is a comb made of bone and riveted with iron (found at Ballykinler crannog).
[Plate XXXIV., 1], is a pointed and socketed iron instrument from Ballymena. [2], drawn about half-size, is evidently a lamp of late, or perhaps mediæval form, composed of iron, and the workmanship good; it had an upright handle pierced by an oblong hole, with another hole in a projection at end of handle. A gentleman saw a lamp of this class in use near Carrickfergus in the year 1840, as also in the islands off the coast of Ulster. [3] is a canoe paddle made of oak, and about 3 feet in length; [4] is of stone, and was found in a crannog in the county Down; [5] is a “spindle-whorl” (so called) made of jet, and having indentations on it for a thong or string; [6] is a flint knife (full size); the form is rather unusual, flint knives being generally straight; [7] is a full-size representation of the smallest of two bronze knives; the other differs from it in being 1 inch longer, and the shape not so curved; it should however be observed, that these two articles are supposed by some authorities to be modern forgeries. [8] is a bronze instrument about 6 inches long, and very sharp at the point; the metal and workmanship being similar to the knives, it therefore may also be spurious. [9.] A lozenge-shaped “spindle-whorl” of jet. This and the three preceding are said to have come from Lough Guile. [10] is a stone, natural size, perforated with two holes crossing at right angles, and at each end a hole going a short way in. It is suggested that it may have been the axis of a small wheel, “the arms being inserted through the holes in the body of the stone, while it worked on two projections inserted into the holes at the ends.”[159]
Plate XXXIV.
Miscellaneous Articles found in Crannogs.
A pair of scales were found at Loughtarmin, and several at Lagore. At the latter place were also a number of sewing-needles, composed of various materials: the majority were of bone, about six or eight of iron, and four or five of bronze. Those made of metal were comparatively small and fine. Needles of the same kind have been met with in the great crannogs of Ardakillen and Ballinderry.