handle, with a human face in relief, surrounded by a moveable ring, which could be used in lifting the pot.*

In the Dowalton Loch no fewer than about ten crannogs were counted, and from a paper contributed to the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries in 1871, on the Crannogs and Lake-Dwellings in Wigtonshire, by the Rev. Geo. Wilson of Glenluce, it would appear as if the whole of the lakes in this locality had at one time been literally studded with them. In Ayrshire they seem to have been not less numerous. One of them, in the Loch of Kilbirnie, has been graphically described by Mr. Love in the ninth volume of the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and as it presents some Structural features different from those already noticed, it may not be out of place to describe it here. Its position was at the upper end, and near the north-west corner of the loch. Originally it was of a circular shape, and rose some two or four feet above the ordinary level of the water. Its surface was overlaid or paved with stones to a depth of from one to two feet, and in parts bore distinct evidence of the action of fire.

'These stones are to be held as the uppermost artificial stratum. The next in descent was a layer of large coarse water-borne gravel mixed with finer sand, which was of the depth of from eighteen inches to two feet. The third layer was brushwood, boughs of trees, among which the hazel predominated, ferns, etc., etc., but the whole was so compressed as not to manifest a greater depth than about six inches. The fourth layer was beams or logs of wood, some of which were nearly two feet in diameter, although the greater number was less. These seemed laid down horizontally, and so as to cross or intersect each other, similar to a raft of wood; some of them showed that they had been mortised or checked into each other, or into vertical piles, and that the tenons when inserted had been fastened by wooden pins, and in one or two instances by large iron nails.

'The whole of this wood work, however, when exposed, was in a greatly disturbed and loosened condition from the movement and upheaval of the structure; and, in consequence, what space in depth these cross-beams occupied was not ascertainable. Then the fifth and lowest stratum was the underlying mud, which was fine, pure, and free of stones, and not at all like boulder clay. Besides, there was manifested as having been planted on the surface, one if not more wooden structures, houses or huts

they might be, small in size, and one of which at least was in the form of a parallelogram, having been constructed of small round posts of wood used in forming the sides and ends. How it had been roofed did not appear. There were seen also bits of bone, as those of birds, as well as a few teeth, similar to those of the cow or ox.

'Then as regards the margin of this island, it appeared to have been palisaded; at least this was the case on its north-east side-that which only was visible. The piles used for this purpose were apparently of oak, and not great in girth; they were driven down into the mud bank as the foundation; and on these, as well as upon the beams, the cutting of an edged tool, not a saw, was quite distinct. Within these vertically-placed piles, and resting on the surface, stones, it is said, were placed, which was the case more certainly around the whole margin. It is also said that stones were even placed outside of these piles, in a row, and on the very margin; but it is only probable that outwith this row there had been an outer course of piles, by means of which the stones were kept in position, but which from weathering had gone into complete decay.

'It is known that this island was approachable by means of a kind of stone causeway which led from the north-west margin of the lake. According to the report of those who saw it often, it was only of the breadth of two or three feet, and was never visible above the water of the loch, which on either side is said to have been six or seven feet in depth. It is not said that this causeway was protected or fortified in any way by piling. It was near the south end of this causeway, along the north-east margin of the island, that in 1868 several canoes or boats, as many it was believed as four, in a less or more entire condition, were discovered."

The first of the crannogs examined by the Ayr and Wigton Archæological Association was that of Lochlee, on the farm of Lochlee, near Tarbolton. The spot on which it stood is a hollow scooped out of the glacial drift, at an elevation of about four hundred feet above the level of the sea, and was artificially drained some forty years ago. The crannog was near the outlet of the lake, and distant from the nearest land, which lay on the south shore, about seventy-five yards. For a long time no one seems to have supposed that the island, which became visible in the summer time, and formed a safe habitation for gulls and other sea-birds during the breeding season,' had ever been inhabited by man. While living at Lochlee farm as ploughman to his father, Burns must have seen it frequently. No tradition as to its former use or character seems

to have survived respecting it. The first to surmise its real character was Mr. James Brown, a provision merchant in Tarbolton. After vainly suggesting to a gentleman in Ayr that an inquiry should be made respecting it, he wrote to Mr. Joseph Anderson, of the National Museum, Edinburgh, now so well and deservedly known by his admirable Rhind Lectures. Recognising the importance of the information he had received, Mr. Anderson at once communicated with Mr. Cochran-Patrick, M.P., one of the Honorary Secretaries of the Ayr and Wigton Archæological Association, by whom the matter was immediately taken up, and permission having been obtained from the Duke of Portland's factor, it was arranged that excavations should be forthwith commenced, in order to ascertain more precisely the structure of what to all appearance was simply a grassy knoll, drier, firmer, and slightly more elevated than the surrounding field.' A small canoe hollowed out of a single trunk of oak, which the workmen engaged in drainage operations had in the meantime dug up out of the moss originally forming the bottom of the lake, was regarded as a good omen, and seemed to arouse the curiosity of workmen and antiquaries alike.

The excavations which were made are described by Dr. Munro in great detail, but, though extremely interesting, cannot here be given. All we can do is to give the principal results. The grassy knoll was found to be a huge circular platform, about twenty-five yards in diameter, built up of layer upon layer of trees and planks from what was once the bottom of the lake, and resting upon a layer of hazel brushwood. The wood used was chiefly birch and oak. Round the outer edge of the platform, and securely mortised above and below into horizontal planks, was a circle of upright piles. To a depth of four feet from the surface the layers were composed of rudely split planks, but beneath were the rough round trunks of the trees with the bark still adhering, and the branches hewn off as if with a hatchet. In the centre of the platform was a rectangular space about thirty-nine feet square, having its sides nearly facing the cardinal points, and a flooring of thick oak beams like railway sleepers. Nearly in the centre of

this, but a little to its northern side, were found no fewer than four fire-places or hearths, slightly oval in shape, and neatly constructed of flat stones of various sizes, and about an inch and a half thick. Each hearth was surrounded with a raised rim also formed of flat stones, but uniformly selected and set on edge. The first was found at a depth of rather less than a foot below the surface of the mound. The second was eighteen inches lower, and partly beneath the first. The third was eighteen inches below the second, and the fourth sixteen inches lower still. Each pavement or hearth rested on a bed of fine clay, which in the case of the three upper ones rested on turf lying on the ashes which had accumulated on the hearth beneath. Measuring from the surface of the log-pavement, towards the north side of which these fire-places were found, the solid mass of wood-work composing the platform was nine feet ten inches deep. On the west side of the crannog were dug out the remains of an old worn-out canoe, which had evidently been utilised in its construction in place of a prepared log. On the north-east and north-west sides of the platform were found dense masses of wood-work, consisting mostly of young trees and branches of birch, mixed up with stakes and logs in the greatest confusion, and apparently intended as a protective barrier. On the south-east side, and running in towards the opposite shore, were found the remains of a submerged gangway, formed for the most part of piles. Surrounding the central log-pavement on the top of the crannog, and just touching the four corners of the pavement, a complete circle of upright oaken piles was traced. All were joined together by transverse beams, and render it more than probable that the central log-pavement had at one time been surrounded by a circular platform of wood, presenting a breastwork some three feet high, except at its southern side, where no traces of the raised horizontal beams were found, and where also the uprights were mostly formed of thick boards. Within this circular platform, and to the south-east and south-west corners of the log-pavement it enclosed, were the remains of what appeared to have been the partitions or walls of a dwelling.

was distinct evidence that the crannog had originally been surrounded by one or more rows of wooden palisades firmly secured together and to the central mass.

The excavations which led to these important discoveries, were made in the years 1878-79. The execution of them was, as Dr. Munro remarks, a work of many weeks of great toil and labour, and of much and varied comment by outsiders.' On the whole, however, it does not seem to have aroused much local interest. One or two visits to the crannog sufficed, we are told, to satisfy the curiosity of most of those who went to see it. By many the idea that the remains of a human dwelling could be found there was derided, and according to one the crannog was nothing more than the remains of an old whisky still.

Subsequently the Ayr and Wigton Archæological Association undertook the examination of the Lochspouts, Barhapple and Buston crannogs. Of these the most important was the last. It stood in a rich meadow, once the bed of a lake of considerable size, called Loch Buston, and situated about half-way between Stewarton and Kilmaurs, in the County of Ayr. Within the recollection of the present generation this area was a mossy bog in summer, and a sheet of water in winter, while the mound formed by the crannog was known as the Swan Knowe, in consequence of the number of wild swans which formerly frequented it. When the bog was being reclaimed some thirteen cart loads of timber were removed from the Knowe, but no one seems to have had any suspicions as to its real character. One did, indeed, remark, there maun hae been dwallers here at ae time;' but the popular theory respecting it, remained unshaken. 'It's juist a timmer hoose ane o' the auld Earls put up to shoot deuks,' said the farmer on whose fields it stood, when the suggestion was made to him that it was in all probability a crannog similar to that which had recently been. discovered at Lochlee. The excavations had not proceeded far however, when this long-cherished theory was given up. The general features of the crannog, which was then discovered, resembled very closely those of the one at Lochlee. There was