110 Procfedwr/s of the Bo//aI Irish Academi/. 



been done a long time ago, and that the present surface had not been 

 disturbed in his recollection for thirty years. When visited, for a 

 preliminary inspection of the site, the stakes of the crannog could be 

 seen sticking up through the surface of the ground, and the circle of 

 the site could be traced by following the outer stakes. A deep drain 

 had lately been cut by the tenant of the farm through the centre of 

 the crannog, exposing the horizontal timbers. Nothing of note 

 appears to have been found when cutting the drain. The upper 

 stone of a quern was found about that time somewhere on the 

 crannog, and is now in possession of the tenant of the farm. It is of 

 the usual form, without special features. 



Permission to excavate the site having been obtained from the 

 landlord, Sir Hugh Adair, and an agreement made with the tenant, 

 an application was made to the Academy for a grant in aid of the 

 work. The Academy at once acceded to our request on the under- 

 standing that the finds should be placed in the Academy's collection in 

 the ITational Museum. 



Excavations were begun on the 28th August, 1901, and carried on 

 continuously, Sundays excepted, to the 10th September. We were 

 assisted by Mrs. Knowles, Miss Knowles, and Miss M. Knowles, 

 the late Eev. G. R. Buick, ll.d., m.r.i.a., and Dr. D'Evelyn, of 

 Ballymena. To their skilled assistance not a little of our success is 

 due. Eour labourers were employed. 



Digging was first started on the south side about 15 feet out- 

 side the crannog. A wide trench Avas pushed in until the outer line 

 of stakes was reached at A on plan. The stakes were then followed 

 up for about one-fourth of the circumference of the crannog on the 

 east side. The surface of the crannog was then laid bare over the 

 south-eastern quadrant. Digging was then resumed at the south side, 

 to the west of the drain, and followed round and inwards, until about 

 one third of the whole area, of the site was uncovered. Nothing was 

 found outside the crannog at the south side. Digging was then com- 

 menced at the north side. A trench was dug well out from the piles, 

 from east to west, and worked in sideways till the piles were reached. 

 Here the kitchen-midden was found. The digging was then carried 

 across the crannog, and practically the whole site uncovered. 



The construction of the crannog may now be described. TJie 

 bottom on which the structure is built consists of a black tenacious 

 mud, greasy in feel. This was reached from 2 to 3 feet below 

 the surface of the site, and rendered digging to any great depth im- 

 possible, water coming in at about 5 feet down. This mud was 



