Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T07:32:12.206Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Crannogs; a diminishing resource? A survey of the crannogs of southwest Scotland and excavations at Buiston Crannog

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

J. W. Barber
Affiliation:
AOC (Scotland) Ltd, The Schoolhouse, 4 Lochend Road, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 8BR, Scotland
B. A. Crone
Affiliation:
AOC (Scotland) Ltd, The Schoolhouse, 4 Lochend Road, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 8BR, Scotland
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Investigations in the 19th century demonstrated that Scottish crannogs, the distinctive waterlogged settlements in the shallow waters at the edge of lochs, were very rich in organic remains of all types. Have the crannogs survived, years after so many of the lakes were drained? Are there organic remains left? A new survey and new excavations at the Buiston crannog shows how much has gone, and the great value of what remains.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 1993

References

ARMIT, I. 1989. The Loch Olabhat Project, North Uist, 1989. Fourth interim report. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University, Department of Archaeology. Occasional paper.Google Scholar
BLUNDELL, O. 1910. On further examination of artificial islands in the Beauly Firth, Loch Bruiach, Loch Moy, Loch Garry, Loch Lundy, Loch Oich, Loch Lochy and Loch Treig, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 44: 1233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
COLES, J. 1986. Precision, purpose and priorities in wetland archaeology, Antiquaries Journal 66(2): 227–47.Google Scholar
DALLAND, M.N.d.. A programme for the calibration of radiocarbon dates with procedures for the analysis of age differences and adjusting for stratigraphic data. Unpublished.Google Scholar
DIXON, T.N. 1982. A survey of crannogs in Loch Tay, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 112: 1738.Google Scholar
DIXON, T.N. 1984. Scottish crannogs: underwater excavation of artificial islands with special reference to Oakbank Crannog, Loch Tay, Unpublished Ph.D thesis, Edinburgh University.Google Scholar
EDWARDS, K.J. & ROWNTREE, K.M. 1980. Radiocarbon and palaeoenvironmental evidence for changing rates of erosion at a Flandrian stage site in Scotland, in Cullingford, R.A. Davidson, D.A. & Lewin, J. (ed.), Timescales in geo morphology: 207–23. Chichester: Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
GUIDO, M. 1974. A Scottish crannog re-dated, Antiquity 48: 54–6.Google Scholar
KELLER, F. 1866. The lake dwellings of Switzerland and other parts of Europe. London: Longman, Green.Google Scholar
LAING, L. & LAING, J. 1990. Celtic Britain and Ireland: the myth of the Dark Ages. Dublin: Irish Academic Press.Google Scholar
LYNN, C.J. 1983. Some ‘early’ ring-forts and crannogs, Journal of Irish Archaeology. 1: 4758.Google Scholar
MALTBY, E. 1989. WetJands of the United Kingdom: character, values and threats, in Coles, J.M. & Coles, B.J. (ed.), The archaeology of rural wetlands in England: 49. Exeter: Wetland Archaeology Research Project.Google Scholar
MANN, L.M. 1902. Report on the excavation of prehistoric pile-structures in pits in Wigtownshire Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 37: 370415.Google Scholar
MORRISON, I. 1985. Landscape with lake dwellings: the crannogs of Scotland. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.Google Scholar
MUNRO, R. 1882. Ancient Scottish lake dwellings. Edinburgh: David Douglas.Google Scholar
OAKLEY, G. 1973. Scottish crannogs. Unpublished MPhil. thesis, Newcastle University.Google Scholar
PEARSON, G.W., PILCHER, J.R. BAILLIE, M.G.L. CORBETT, D.M. & QUA., F. 1986. High-precision 14C measurement of Irish oaks to show the natural 14C variations from AD 1840 to 5210 BC, Radiocarbon. 28: 911–34.Google Scholar
PIGGOTT, C.M. 1953. Milton Loch Crannog 1: a native house of the 2nd century AD in Kirkcudbrightshire, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 87: 134–52.Google Scholar
PRYOR, F. 1992. Current research at Flag Fen, Peterborough, Antiquity 66: 439–57.Google Scholar
ROBERTSON, A.S. 1970. Roman finds from non-Roman sites in Scotland, Britannia 1: 198226.Google Scholar
SCOTT, J.G. 1960. Loch Glashan, Discovery and Excavation in Scotland: 89.Google Scholar
TIPPING, R. 1992. Interpretation of the radiocarbon dates from lacustrine sediments at Buiston Crannog. AOC (Scotland) Ltd internal report.Google Scholar
TRUCKELL, A.E. & WILLIAMS, J. 1967. Medieval pottery in Dumfriesshire and Galloway, Transactions of the Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society 44: 133–74.Google Scholar
WILLIAMS, B.B. 1978. Excavations at Lough Eskragh, Co. Tyrone, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 41: 3748.Google Scholar
WILLIAMS, J. 1971. A crannog at Loch Arthur, New Abbey, Transactions of the Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society 48: 121–4.Google Scholar