Crannógs in the Kilmartin Valley
The seven Crannógs in the Kilmartin Valley are located in three lakes, (here called Lochs), north of the village of Kilmartin in the county of Argyll and Bute in Scotland .
Crannógs in Loch Awe
During an underwater survey of Loch Awe in 1972, approximately 60 sites were examined and crannógs were confirmed in 20 sites . 16 of them are in that part of Loch Awe that belongs to Argyll. But only four, at the southwest end of the hole, are Kilmartin . The Crannógs (1) and (4) are usually visible above the water level and the dam (from Crannógs l) can even be seen from the bank.
- Crannóg 1 ( 56 ° 11 ′ 21.7 ″ N , 5 ° 24 ′ 10.4 ″ W )
located 60 m from the shore in the bay between Liever Island and Rubha Mhic Chaisein. The almost round crannóg measures around 20 by 18 m. To the north is a curved stone dam, probably a boat landing site.
- Crannóg 2 ( 56 ° 11 ′ 12.1 ″ N , 5 ° 22 ′ 52.9 ″ W ) is located in a bay 500 m northeast of Fincharn Castle. The oval crannóg measures approximately 21 by 13 m.
- Crannóg 3 ( 56 ° 10 ′ 52.2 ″ N , 5 ° 24 ′ 9.1 ″ W ) is located about 80 m north of the bank at KiIneuair. It is an oval crannóg about 25 by 16.5 m.
- Crannóg 4 ( 56 ° 10 ′ 50.8 ″ N , 5 ° 24 ′ 49.8 ″ W ) is about 100 m north of the shore at the Ederline boathouse. The large oval crannóg (37 by 27 m and three meters high) is built on the end of an underwater rock spur.
In the course of the investigation, processed timber as well as a rotary and a saddle mill were found. One sample gave a radiocarbon level of 370%. Chr. ± 45 years.
Crannógs in Loch Ederline
Loch Ederline is the southwest extension of Loch Awe. A proven and a possible crannóg are in Loch Ederline.
- Crannóg 1 ( 56 ° 10 ′ 3 ″ N , 5 ° 26 ′ 12.6 ″ W ) is about 60 m from the west bank. This crannóg measures approximately six meters in diameter and is 0.3 m above the current water level. There was probably a dam between the Crannóg and the adjacent bank.
- Crannóg 2 is located on the north-west coast of the lake, about 300 m northeast of AuchineIlen. The grass-overgrown hill is about 35 m in diameter and 0.7 m above the waterline. He has been identified as a possible Crannóg. Without an excavation, however, the identification must remain uncertain.
Suspected crannóg in Loch Loran
The small Loch Loran is a little further south than Loch Awe.
A massive build-up of timber was noted near the northeast corner of Loch Loran when the water level was abnormally low. But at normal water level there was no trace of any structure.
literature
- M. Campbell & M. Sandeman: Mid Argyll: an archaeological survey , In: Proc Soc Antiq Scot, Vol. 95 1964
- MG Cavers: Argyll Crannog Survey (various parishes), crannog sites, In: Discovery Excav Scot, Vol. 4 2003
Web links
- Entry on Crannógs in the Kilmartin Valley in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
- Digging report Elderline