Excavations of Luchbuttox Ckaxxog. 129 



end of the loch there is a large camp or moat from which the 

 farm of Moat derives its name. 



The site of the ancient castle of Auchenfranco also lies at the 

 south-west corner of the loch, and at a distance of little over 

 half-a-mile to the south-east stands Hills Tower, tall and pictur- 

 esque, and, thanks to the care of the proprietrix, well preserved. 



The crannog and a small natural island, named on the 

 Ordnance Map Button's Cairn, appear as wooded specks on the 

 surface of the loch. The loch lies 305 feet above sea level, 

 measures nearly a mile in length from north to south, and half-a- 

 mile in width, and extends in area to 125 acres. The principal 

 feeder is at the south end, the outfall being opposite, with a rock 

 bed not liable to change. The crannog is 230 yard.s distant from 

 the peninsula on the east shore the nearest point of the mainland ; 

 190 yards of water separates it from the natural island, which 

 again is 90 yards distant from the west shore of the loch. 



It is not a little remarkable that the crannog occupies a 

 position as exactly as may be in the centre of the loch's area, so 

 that notwithstanding its diminutive size, being divided by the 

 medium Ji/u?n, the eastern half belongs to the proprietor of Hills, 

 and the western to Auchenfranco. 



In regard to the depth of the loch, the soundings round 

 the crannog show a nearly level bottom with 11 to 13 feet of 

 water. Half way between the islands the depth increases to 35 

 feet, and 140 yards to the south of the crannog, the deepest jjart 

 of the loch, the sounding is 52 feet. 12 feet is the depth between 

 the natural island and the west shore, and between the crannog 

 and the east shore it is 11^ feet. 



The examination of the crannog by pick and spade, although 

 sanctioned last year, could not be carried out at that time owing 

 to the high level of the loch. 'I'he peninsula or outer island was, 

 however, partly examined by sections through the artificial ram- 

 part and a number of short trenches in the interior. In the 

 beginning of September last the exploratory works were pro- 

 ceeded with on the crannog, two workmen being employed, and 

 operations continued during three weeks. Considerable progress 

 had been made, when, unfortunately, following on rains, the level 

 of the loch again rose, and ultimately reached a height which 

 rendered postponement of the completion of the investigation 

 imperative. 



