Tidal Crannog at Dumbarton. - Since our last issue more discoveries of a most interesting character have been made by Mr. Donnelly and his able coadjutors, of which the following extracts from Mr. Donnelly's communications to the Editor, with his spirited drawings, give a graphic and vivid account :ï "October 14th. The work still proceeds with satisfactory results, and is viewed with mixed feelings by some, but the majority rejoice that such an opportunity has arisen to study this page in the life of Pre-historic Man. A number of scientists have visited the find, as well as several societies, such as the Glasgow Archæological Society, the Old Kilpatrick Naturalists' and Antiquarians' Society, the Alexandria Naturalists' Society, the Helensburgh Naturalists' and Antiquaries' Society, and the Glasgow Geological Society; in every case astonishment was expressed, and delight that they should have such an opportunity. Stone weapons are not numerous, but bone ones are, as well as those of stag-horn. Several of this type have been found, and in one of them I found the core of a wooden shaft (fig. 1), another (fig. 2); and another upon which the saw-cut on the ends is very clean: as much so as if done with a 'Sheffield blade' (fig. 3). "We found numerous ponderous sandstones with evident signs of work, and spear-heads of hard slate (figs. 5 and 6). We have also got these two in connection with our most valuable find. A plank, or beam, was come upon while excavating the refuse bed on the western side of the circuit; it proved to be oak, 15 ft. 4 ins. long, 18 ins. wide, and 4 ins. thick, at first supposed to be a canoe; but mortice-holes were discovered; and fuller investigation revealed it to be a pre-historic ladder morticed out of the solid, with the stepping side well bevelled. The ladder lay thus (fig. 7) under tons of boulders and mud; it is of rare workmanship, and apparently of the same date as the canoe. was in one of the mortice-holes the spear-head was found; bones were also got in these holes, a grand wild boar's tusk (fig. 9) was also It obtained beside it, as well as several hammer stones. The ladder has been pronounced to be our most valuable find. The canoe and ladder are of workmanship very much alike. The centre of the crannog I have not yet excavated, but I have an idea that the stones in the 3 4 1 2 Figs. 1-3. Implements of Stag-horn. Fig. 4.-Implement of Bone. centre are laid in an order of design, but only the careful removal of the loose materials will prove this. "A number of wooden objects have been found, from the size of a hen's egg to the size of a man's head; their use is not certain, what might they be? They are worked very smooth. Cup-and-ring connection is positively proven, both in stones and bone, here. The latest, a wonderfully perfect specimen, the use of which I do not know, is of stag-horn (fig. 10); it is very time-worn, the impression is weathered very much away, and the shaft is broken across. "One of our latest experiences on the crannog is the discovery that the war canoe was lying in a beautifully-constructed wet dock 5 6 Figs. 5 and 6.---Slate Spear-heads. (figs. 11, 12). I am more fascinated with it and the work of our pre-historic forefathers, the more I see. They may have lacked culture and refinement, but their intelligence was of a high order, and they had an acute perception of the fitness of things. "The puzzle about the levels of the Clyde is most exasperating; the facts I have proved by the discoveries of the causeway, and the 'wet dock' suggest very positively the idea of habitation at the present level inside the piles; but how is this to be reconciled with Dr. Munro's theories as to the levels at the date when this dwelling must have been constructed, circ. B.C. 2000; see Dr. Munro, Lake Dwellings, and elsewhere. "Oct. 31st. One of the latest finds is a very fine quern, or millstone (fig. 14). The driving bar, of oak, 36 ins. long and about 3 ins. wide, and in. thick, was found alongside, but in excavation it was broken into three or four pieces. The quern lay on a bed of refuse, which appears to be calcined acorns, ground and unground; the quern was got 21 ft. outside the crannog proper, to the east of the causeway. I also found a number of bones alongside the quern, similar to many got in the refuse bed. "We have also been able to positively verify the existence of the outer breakwater, running all round. A section of it was laid bare on Saturday, which was viewed with great interest by the company present. This breakwater is shown in section (figs. 15, 16). "We are making an early start to the more important features of the centre of the crannog proper. We have been advised to make a special study of everything there, even the earth. "This I shall do my best to carry out, as the fact of habitation on this level would mean much. UPPER MUD SURFACE Fig. 12. Method of constructing Wet Dock for the Great War Canoe, " I shall let you have further particulars as they are disclosed.” |