78 A GALLoway STONE-AGE VILLAGE. 
in the same style as the others, and was a longish, rather square- 
ended oval. The soil at the bottom of the half which contained 
no substructure was darker than the surrounding soil, and had 
evidently been disturbed at some time. 
The piles were not so securely placed in the soil as at Site 
No. 3. They occupied the north-west end of the oval, and were 
bluntly cut at the lower ends. At the west side of the structure 
they were less substantial than those at the east or opposite side, 
and were placed at various angles, while those at the east side 
were perpendicular. This site was drier than its neighbours, and 
the relics were scarce. The subsoils were much of the same 
character as those disclosed at the other sites. 
Section II.—DETAILS OF THE RESULTS OF THE EXPLORATION, 
AND SUMMARIES. 
Various kinds of timber were used, no doubt in an un- 
seasoned condition, as the wood was probably placed in the 
structure not long after it had been cut. The fresh green 
appearance of the bark points to this conclusion. Moreover, 
old dried timber would not have given such a fine smooth un- 
cracked surface as may be observed on the cut parts. The bark 
remained on the stems in many cases, and in the case of the 
birch wood it gave the timber a fresh and beautiful appearance. 
The diameter of the piles was usually about 3 inches, but the 
diameters varied from 1 or 2 inches to 8 inches. Those of 
average diameter showed about 15 annual rings. The stems 
were usually straight and well grown. The wood had retained 
its shape, but was soft and spongy, and under pressure of the 
fingers gave way at once, exuding moisture. 
It was not possible, owing to the decayed state of the timber, 
to ascertain at what time of the year the wood had been felled; 
in other words, whether it was Autumn or Spring felled—a piece 
of information which would have thrown light upon the question 
as to whether the structures were built at the beginning of the 
summer or of the winter season. Many of the logs in ancient 
pile-structures have a bias or lean, caused by long-continued 
pressure of the surrounding matter from above or from the side. 
Most of the Stoneykirk piles which were not perpendicular 
seemed, however, to have been originally set in a slanting 
position. 
