Part 32

[53] In a footnote on page 241 of his "Antiquity of Man," Sir Charles states that the Memoir of Professor Crahay was published in 1836, in the _Bulletin de l'Académie Royale de Belgique_, tome iii. p. 43. I find, however, that in this reference Crahay merely notices in a few lines the finding of the bones of the elephant in the excavations above referred to, and makes no mention whatever of the human jaw.

[54] _Das Ausland_, 1877, p. 960.

[55] "Ancient Scottish Lake-Dwellings," p. 219.

[56] _Zeit. für Ethn., Verhand._, p. 39, vol. viii.

[57] _Zeit. für Ethn._, vol. vi., _Verhand._, p. 228.

[58] _Ibid._, vol. x., _Verhand._, p. 52.

[59] "Die vorgeschichtlichen Rundwälle im östlichen Deutschland." Berlin, 1888.

[60] _Zeit. für Eth._, vol. vi., _Verhand._, p. 115, and vol. vii., _Verhand._, p. 127.

[61] _Ibid._, vol. ix., _Verhand._, p. 449.

[62] Behla, "Die vergeschichtlichen Rundwälle," p. 8.

[63] _Ibid._, p. 22.

[64] "Nat. Hist.," lib. xvi. 1.

[65] _Inter. Cong, d'Anthrop. et d'Arch._, Ses. V., p. 212.

[66] "Ancient Scottish Lake-Dwellings," p. 273.

[67] _Cong. Inter. d'Anthrop. et d'Arch._, Ses. V., 1871, p. 212.

[68] A comb precisely similar to the one here figured (No. 30) is described and figured by Ossowski as coming from the cavern of Wierzchowska-Górna in Poland. _Antiqua_, 1887, p. 41, and pl. vii. Fig. 10.

[69] _Handelingen van het Friesch Genootschap_, 1886-7, p. 12.

[70] "Die heidnischen Alterthümer Ostfrieslands." Emden, 1879.

Fifth Lecture.

THE LAKE-DWELLINGS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

I.--IRISH CRANNOGS.

Public attention was first directed to Irish crannogs by Sir W. Wilde, in the year 1839. It appears that early in this year Dr. Petrie's curiosity was roused by the frequency of the visits of a local dealer offering for sale objects of more or less archæological value, which, he stated, were found in a peat bog at Dunshaughlin, in the county of Meath. The articles exhibited were of a miscellaneous character, and their assortment in such a place seemed so strange that Dr. Petrie determined to visit the locality. Accordingly he and Surgeon Wilde (afterwards Sir W. R. Wilde) started for West Meath in search of the mysterious find, and were conducted to the peat-bog of Lagore, near the village of Dunshaughlin. Here, within the boundaries of a drained lake, they found an artificial mound entirely overgrown with peat, then partially exposed by turf-cutters. On making inquiries as to the antecedents of this mound they were informed that it had been well known to bone-collectors for upwards of ten years, and that already 150 cart-loads of bones had been dug out and forwarded to Scotland for manure. Altogether the find was considered of great importance, and it was arranged between the two antiquaries that Petrie should write a description of the antiquities, while Wilde was to confine himself to an analysis of the animal remains.

According to Mr. W. F. Wakeman,[71] it appears that Dr. Petrie was a little jealous of Surgeon Wilde's enthusiasm for archæology, and accordingly wished to limit the scope of his investigations. Wilde's paper, entitled "On the Animal Remains and Antiquities recently found at Dunshaughlin," was read at a meeting of the Irish Academy on the 27th April, 1840, and it is singular, and perhaps confirmatory of Wakeman's suggestion, that, with the exception of two extracts bearing on the situation and structure of the mound, it is reported in the Proceedings only in abstract. I here quote these extracts as the most authoritative description of this remarkable lake-dwelling now extant:--

LAGORE OR DUNSHAUGHLIN.

"About a mile to the east of the village of Dunshaughlin, on the townland of _Lagore_, and near the margin of a 'cutaway' black bog, is a circular mound, slightly raised above the surrounding plain, its highest central part being about eight feet above the margin, and the circumference of the mound measuring 520 feet. A small stream passes through the circle; and the whole bog in which it is situated occupies a slight concavity of about a mile and a half in circumference, bounded by raised tillage and pasture lands. Within the memory of some of the old inhabitants of the neighbourhood, this bog was covered with water during the greater part of the year, and it is so invariably during winter up to the present period. A large pond is still in existence in one of the fields adjoining the mound. A few years ago some labourers, while clearing the stream-way, discovered several bones protruding from its sides; and in May, 1839, the quantity of bones found in the drain was so great, and their value so well known, that a further examination was made, when it was discovered that the greater part of the mound was composed of the remains of animals, placed there in the following manner:--

"The circumference of the circle was formed by upright posts of black oak, measuring from 6 to 8 feet in height; these were mortised into beams of a similar material, laid flat upon the marl and sand beneath the bog, and nearly 16 feet below the present surface. The upright posts were held together by connecting cross-beams, and fastened by large iron nails; parts of a second upper tier of posts were likewise found, resting on the lower ones. The space thus enclosed was divided into separate compartments, by septa or divisions that intersected one another in different directions; these were also formed of oaken beams in a state of great preservation, but joined together with greater accuracy than the former, and in some cases having their sides grooved or rabbited to admit large panels driven down between them. The interiors of the chambers so formed were filled with bones and black moory earth, and the heap of bones was raised up in some places within a foot of the surface. It was generally found that the remains of each species of animal were placed in separate divisions, with but little intermixture with any other; and the antiquities, etc., were found along with them, without any order or regularity, but for the most part near the bottom." (B. 4, p. 420.)

From the abstract of Wilde's paper I find that among the osseous remains the following animals were represented:--several varieties of oxen, the pig (a smaller variety than is now bred in Ireland), the horse, the ass, the common and fallow deer, the goat, _one skull of the four-horned sheep_, a large species of the greyhound tribe, probably the Irish wolf-dog, and the fox. A few bones of birds, the shells of limpets and buccinums, and a large quantity of the broken shells of hazel-nuts were also noted. Nearly in the centre of the heap, and within 2 feet of the surface, were found two human skeletons lying at length, and without any surrounding wood or stone coffin. Owing to the prejudices of the peasants these bones had to be re-interred. The report then goes on to say:--

"The antiquities found in this place may be divided into the warlike, the culinary, and the ornamental. They consisted of _iron_ swords of different lengths, with straight edges and angular points, and bearing a resemblance to the ancient Roman swords. Very many knives were found, of different shapes and sizes, with iron spear, javelin, and dagger blades, and part of the boss or central ornament of a shield; but _no brazen weapons_ of any description. Two querns, or ancient corn-mills, were found on the marl, at the bottom of the enclosure; sharpening-stones, iron chains, an iron axe, a brazen pot, and three small brass bowls of most elegant shape and workmanship; several articles precisely resembling miniature frying-pans, of about three inches in diameter (perhaps incense-burners); circular discs of turned bone, wood, and slate, like those supposed to have been used at the end of the distaff; small shears, like the modern sheep-shears; brazen, bone, and iron pins, from 4 to 6 inches in length, the former of great beauty of construction; brooches, and parts of buckles, containing pieces of enamel and mosaic work; bracelets; wooden (yew-tree) combs, toothpicks, etwees, and other articles belonging to the toilet. Several of these articles show an extraordinary state of perfection of the arts at the period of their construction.

"A very curious bone was likewise found (=Fig. 102=), and exhibited to the meeting, with a number of devices carved on it, as if by way of practice in engraving; these devices consisted of scrolls and marks precisely similar to those found on ancient Irish crosses, ornaments, and gravestones. There were no crosses, beads, or _Christian_ sacred ornaments found in the excavation: but a number of pieces of stags' horns sawn across, and also pieces of hazel-wood, in great quantity, as if laid up for firewood, were found in one spot near the bottom. Some of the articles exhibited now belong to the collection of the Dean of St. Patrick's: but the greater number were forwarded for the inspection of the Academy by Mr. Barnwall, of Grennanstown, on whose ground the discovery was made, and to whom Mr. Wilde was indebted for the bones, and permission to make any researches he might require."

The late Lord Talbot de Malahide, writing in the _Archæological Journal_ of June, 1849 (B. 10, p. 101), says, in regard to the Lagore find:--

"A great portion of these valuable relics became the property of the late Dr. Dawson, Dean of St. Patrick's; and on his decease were purchased, with the rest of his Irish antiquities, and presented to the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy. Surgeon Wilde also presented to the same institution a valuable collection of the bones found in the same locality. Mr. Barnwall, the owner of the soil, still possesses some remnant of this treasure, after having been plundered to a considerable extent by dishonest servants; and those specimens which I possess, representations of some of which are given in illustration of this paper, I owe to the liberality and kindness of the same gentleman."

The following list comprises the various antiquities from Lagore then in the possession of Lord Talbot, and laid before the members of the Institute at the monthly meeting on February 2nd:--

_Objects of Iron._--Two double-edged swords, one measuring 22¼ inches, inclusive of the tang which passed through the hilt; the blade, 18½ inches long and 1⅜ inch wide, was formed with a wide shallow groove along its entire length. The other sword-blade measures 15¼ inches and is formed with a central ridge. A blade, curved towards the point, in some degree resembling certain Oriental weapons; the curved portion alone has a cutting edge on both sides; length 13¼ inches, and width of curved portion 1 inch. Two spear-heads, in fine preservation and very sharp; length 10 inches. A peculiar single-edged weapon, resembling the glaive of simplest form, but of diminutive size, the blade measuring only 8 inches. An iron axe-head, length 7 inches. A peculiar iron pipe. (See page 431.) An iron ladle. An iron ring with portion of chain manacle (=Figs. 103= and =104=).

_Bronze._--A small bowl 5¼ inches diameter, height 3 inches. Three armillæ of rude fashion. Portion of bronze ornament with enamelled work and exquisite finish. Portion of a ring fibula, with the extremities, between which the acus passed, dilated and flat. There are cavities in the metal in which enamel or some other ornament appears to have been incrusted. Portion of an object with interlaced ornamentation (=Fig. 105=), of unknown use. Several bronze pins of various fashion and size, from 3 to 6 inches in length. Four of these have movable rings appended to one extremity in lieu of a head. Another pin has a head of very singular fashion, as shown by the representation here annexed, of the same size as the original (=Fig. 104=).

_Bone._--Two bone needles or bodkins, being perforated at the extremities, 2½ to 3½ inches long. A double-toothed comb of bone, rudely ornamented with lines and concentric circles, 3½ by 2¼ inches.

In April, 1887, through the courtesy and assistance of the present Lord Talbot de Malahide, I had the satisfaction of inspecting most of the above described objects, which are still in safe keeping among the art treasures of Malahide Castle. Illustrations of most of them are given on =Figs. 103= and =104=.

The objects from Lagore which went to the Museum of the Irish Academy, together with those in the Petrie collection (now belonging to the Academy), are in such a state of confusion, owing to the absence of distinguishing labels, and the want of harmony between the numbers on the objects and those in the official catalogue, that, notwithstanding several visits to the museum with the express purpose of identifying and singling out some of the crannog remains, I have been unable to make much addition to those already illustrated.

By the kind permission of the council of the Royal Irish Academy I am enabled to make use of the few woodcuts from Wilde's catalogue illustrative of objects from Lagore. They are as follows:-- The top of a pin ornamented with three movable rings (=Fig. 104=), an ornamental bone comb, a bronze dagger, and three beads (=Fig. 105=). The ribbed bead is opaque, with traces of a light green varnish, and is almost identical with beads found in the Scottish crannogs. Another is an inch long and has a raised ornament in white on a deep blue ground.

The objects represented on =Fig. 106= I have identified, with the assistance of Mr. Wakeman, as coming from the same remarkable locality. They are all of iron and represented one-third natural size, and will be readily recognised as tools and weapons of ordinary use.

In regard to the historic notices of Lagore Sir W. R. Wilde writes as follows:--

"As the earliest discovered and examined crannoge in modern times has been that of Lagore, near Dunshaughlin, County of Meath, so, upon looking into the authorities, we find it the first alluded to. Loch Gabhair is said to have been one of the nine lakes which burst forth in Ireland A.M. 3581 ('Annals of the Four Masters'; see also Colgan's 'Acta Sanctorum,' p. 422, n. 14). In A.D. 848, we read that Cinaedh, son of Conaing, Lord of Cianachta-Breagh, in Meath, went with a strong force of foreigners, and plundered the Ui-Neill from the Sionainn (the Shannon) to the sea; 'and he plundered the island of Loch Gabhor, and afterwards burned it, so that it was level with the ground.' And in the old translation of the 'Annals of Ulster,' Codex Clarendensis, the passage is thus rendered:--"And brake down the island of Loch Gavar to the very bottom.' Again, in A.D. 933, the same authority informs us that--'The island of Loch-Gavar [was] pulled down by Aulaiv O'Hivair,' and the cave of Knowth, on the Boyne, plundered during one of the Scandinavian marauding expeditions with which the kingdom was then troubled. Thus we have evidence that Lagore crannoge was occupied upwards of one thousand years ago." (B. 18, p. 229.)

DISCOVERY OF OTHER CRANNOGS.

Sir W. Wilde states that a few months after the discovery of Lagore, an island "artificially formed of timber and peat" was brought to light upon lowering the water of Roughan Lake, near Dungannon, on which "numerous fragments of ancient pottery and bones, a few bronze spear-heads," and an upper ornamental quern stone, were discovered. Other discoveries of a similar character are successively noted as having been made in various other localities. An island became exposed on the lowering of the waters of Lough Gur, county of Limerick, from which it is said a vast collection of bones and a great number of antiquities have from time to time been obtained. Among the latter is a most interesting stone mould (=Fig. 107=) for bronze spear-heads.[72] In 1845, Mr. Shirley, in his "account of the kingdom of Farney" (B. 8, p. 94), describes another crannog which was brought to light two years previously, as constituting "The island Ever Mac Cooley's house." "The foundations," writes Mr. Shirley, "of this ancient residence were discovered in the autumn of 1843, seven feet below the present surface of the earth, in the little island at Lisanisk, and two feet below the present water level of the lake a double row of piles were found sunk in the mud; they were formed of young trees, from 6 to 12 inches in diameter, with the bark on. The area enclosed by these piles, from which we may judge of the size of the house, was 60 feet in length by 42 feet in breadth." In the following year the same writer describes two other lake-dwellings in the same district, one in Lake Monalty and the other in Lough-na-Glack, on and around which the following relics were said to have been found:--

"Three bronze celts with loops on the sides, and the remains of the stick were found in one of them; a very perfect small dagger of bronze, one foot in length; two bronze arrow-heads, double pointed; a bronze gouge or chisel, rarely found in Ireland; the head of a bronze hunting-spear; part of a bronze sword or dagger; a bronze cap, apparently the end of a wooden hilt of some weapon; the bronze handle of a javelin or spear, with loop attached; the boss of a shield of bronze; a bronze knife which appears to have been gilt; a bronze knife or dagger, measuring 10½ inches in length; a smaller one 7 inches in length; a bronze bolt, with loop, measuring 16½ inches in length--this was found sticking in the mud, close to the island on Lough-na-Glack; another, 12 inches in length, has been since found in the island itself. Of bronze ornaments found on these islands there are the following: Several bronze rings of different sizes, two of them with transverse spring openings, others hollow, and probably parts of armour or horse trappings; two bronze needles, one of them with the eye entire; a bronze pin, the head hollowed like a cup, and bearing a striking resemblance to the ends of the golden ornaments often found in Ireland; several bronze pins like modern shirt pins; parts of several bronze fibulæ or brooches, with fragments of several bronze instruments, rivets, etc.; a small circular bronze bell, like a sheep-bell; three harp keys of bronze of different sizes. Of other ornaments found on the island on Lough-na-Glack I may particularly mention several amber and blue glass beads, three bone pins, and a comb apparently of ivory. Of iron instruments, an iron dagger, measuring with the hilt 15 inches; several iron coulters of ploughs of very primitive form, 7 inches in length; parts of iron instruments the use of which it is impossible to determine; a long gun-barrel, 3 feet 8 inches in length, of that sort, I believe, formerly called a calliver; part of the lock of a pistol; many large bullets of lead were also found. I may add to this list a pair of quern stones, found on the Monalty Island; some burnt corn; remains of coarse broken earthenware vessels, and bits of thick dark glass; an earthen pot, shaped like a hat; another of Dutch manufacture, with the figure of a man's head below the spout, used in Ireland during the seventeenth century, and called grey-beards; some small Dutch tobacco pipes; cut oval stones, apparently intended for pounding in mortars; several circular stones, with holes in the centres, often found with ancient remains, and considered in Ireland to belong to the ancient spinning wheels; also several stones, or hones, of different shapes and sizes, for sharpening weapons and tools; a brass token, nearly defaced, probably of the reign of Charles II." (B. 9, p. 44.)

In 1845, when the lake of Corcreevy, county of Tyrone, was drained, its crannog was examined by Mr. Burnside, when the following articles were recovered from among its remains:--A pair of bronze and iron manacles, an ornamental comb of bone, parts of a musical instrument, an arrow-head, a spear-head, and a hammer-stone.[73]

BALLINDERRY.

About the same time the crannog in Ballinderry Lough, near Moate, county of Meath, became known, and appears to have yielded a large quantity of bones and antiquities, together with one or two canoes. From the number of objects now in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy, and in private collections, said to be found on this crannog, it must have been an unusually rich repository of lake-dwelling relics; yet, singular to relate, Sir W. Wilde dismisses the subject by stating that he was indebted to Mr. Hayes, of Moate, for a description of the find, together with a plan and map of the locality. On this crannog Mr. Graves, writing as late as 1883, makes the following remarks:--

"There was a great crannog in this lakelet, surrounded by a stockade of oak piles. Around this and on the crannog was found an immense quantity of the antlers of the red deer, and the bones of deer, oxen, sheep, and other animals, which were sold as manure. A great and varied mass of objects of an archæological nature were also found on, in, and around the crannog, some of which found their way to the hands of various collectors, and some, I believe, are in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy (=Figs. 108= and =112=), but unhappily no record or connected account of that great crannog or its finds has been preserved. Amongst the articles of wood which Mr. Browne secured was a portion of an ancient harp. The pins and amulets exhibited on the occasion referred to have since been engraved, and I now describe them, beginning with the amulets (=Fig. 109=), which are here engraved from photographs full size." (B. 391, p. 196.)

It is suggested by Mr. Graves that the curious scorings on these pins are of the nature of Ogham and Runic writing (=Figs. 110= and =111=), but special authorities who have examined them do not support this theory. Moreover, I doubt the genuineness of both the pins and amulets.

LOUGH FAUGHAN.

Rev. Charles Archbold, writing of a crannog in Lough Faughan, county Down, says:--

"I found that the island was in a great measure, if not altogether, artificial. There were large stakes driven into the ground, and completely enclosing the space within, but not rising above the surface, so as to form a palisade, but evidently for the purpose of keeping in the soil from the encroachment of the water. The tradition respecting it is, that there had been a castle on the shore opposite, the chieftain of which caused this island to be made as a place of refuge from the sudden onslaughts of the O'Neills; and to render this retreat more secure he would never allow more than one boat or canoe on the lake. During the drainage of the lake some years ago, a canoe formed out of a solid piece of oak was found near the island." A jug of excellent workmanship was found on this crannog (Fig. 113). (B. 18, p. 224.)

DISCOVERIES BY BOARD OF WORKS.