Prehistoric Dwelling Places 7d 



piles are still to be seen around the edges, and I was informed 

 that a comparatively few years ago these were much more 

 plentiful. 



In the centre of the Island we sank a hole down by removing 

 the stones, Avhich we found were in a stratum of three feet deep ; 

 they lay upon a foundation of felled trees laid horizontally, the 

 intertices being packed with soil, now presenting a boggy appear- 

 ance. At this depth we were down to the water level, and 

 further excavation was impossible ; it was indeed unnecessary, as 

 it was quite evident that the artificial Island was constructed on 

 the usual plan. No antiquarian remains were discovered in the 

 way of implements, domestic remains, or ornaments, as these, if 

 any, would naturally lie either on the surface or in the kitchen 

 midden. The surface has long ago been cleared of any remains of 

 dwelling huts or their contents. From the smallness of the Island 

 and from the fact that it is submerged in winter, and that the 

 stone surface now extends as far as the eye can see under the 

 water all round, it is quite evident that the whole Island has 

 gradually sunk, through the decay of the timber foundation, far 

 below its original level, and that therefore the midden, where 

 remains might be found, is now sunk far under water, and hope- 

 lessly lost. 



By lucky chance I met with an item in the Irish State 

 papers * by which this Lake Dwelling can be identified and 

 its owner known. In the Earl of Essex's plan for the sub- 

 jugation of Ulster, in 1573-4, he proposed first to subjugate the 

 County of Antrim, and surround it with a chain of English 

 Garrisons. On the west side of the County he proposed to 

 garrison Coleraine ; " two miles distant from James M'Kenries' 

 ' (O'Cahan's) Cronok called Ynish Lokan ; distant 8 miles from 

 'Ballybony, 2 miles from ye Banne without ye circuit, and 5 

 ' miles from Castell Toome and 2 miles from Bryan Caroghe's 

 ' (O'Neill's) Cronok uppon ye Bann, reserved for footmen to 

 'keep that ford of the Bann, distant 5 miles from Castle Toome," 

 *See Ulster Journal of Archeology, 1st series, vol. IX., p. 251. 



