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the bottom. They would also, of course, have been bonded together. On the 

 other hand, it must be conceded that these piles may be of a much more recent 

 date, and used for the purpose of fastening boats or nets. 



It is important to note the state of preservation in which the flat oak 

 piles were found. Four or five of them in all, were extracted. They were all 

 of heart of oak, cleft from large trees, of course with a view to durability. The 

 adherent marl being washed away, the wood appeared perfectly fresh and sound, 

 but on cutting into it, the wood for nearly half an inch in depth, was found to 

 be quite soft, and of no strength whatever ; deeper in, however, it retained all, 

 or nearly all, its original strength and character. After being out of water and 

 exposed to air for some days, it turned quite black, and the exterior soft portion 

 cracking transversely, it assumed exactly the appearance of a piece of charcoal 

 timber. The specimen shown is a good illustration of the general condition of 

 these piles. Those which are found within the island and occasionally exposed 

 to air, are not nearly so well preserved. 



In order to examine the structure of the island, it was necessary to sink 

 several holes. The principal of these was at the centre or highest point, about 

 4£ft. above the then level of the water. For nearly three feet from the surface 

 were large loose stones and earth, then a layer of tolerably compact peat, lying 

 upon the remains of reed and small wood which had apparently been bound 

 together like faggots. Below these was stiff marl. These proportions were 

 reduced on approaching near the present water edge, but the whole island was 

 thickly covered with stones, except at the North-east angle, where a deep 

 deposit of vegetable mould, with only an occasional stone was found. The lower 

 portion of this mould contained a great deal of charcoal, and below that again 

 the peat and reeds. In this portion of the island bones were found very plenti- 

 fully, and at all depths above the peat. Some of those that were lowest down 

 were apparently the freshest looking. In the adjacent shallow water were also 

 great numbers of bones and teeth, and some bits of charcoal. Many of the 

 larger bones were split and cracked, as if for the purpose of extracting marrow 

 or brains. 



Some of these bones were sent last summer by the writer to Professor 

 Kolleston, of Oxford, who wrote that " the chief points of interest respecting 

 them were, first, the presence of two varieties of horse — one small, such as a 

 Welsh pony is, and the other large (as I am informed large horses appear to 

 have existed as well as mere galloways in the very earliest human periods in this 

 country) ; and secondly, the smallness of the then ordinarily eaten mammals, 

 sus, bos, ovis. The horse was eaten formerly, especially by the Pagans, and it 

 may have been eaten by the inhabitants of your Crannoge, but there is no 

 evidence from splitting or burning that they did so. I have not found any deer, 

 dog, fox, wolf, marten, or other mammalian bones than those I mention, viz. : 

 horse, pig, sheep, cow, nor any bird, nor other bones of any kind amongst those 

 you have sent me.'' 



