173 



No. 2, or West Island ; No. 3, or Middle Island; and No. 4, or East 

 Island. (See Figs. Nos. 1 and 2.) 



Through the kindness of J. Hemsworth, Esq., of Danesfort, who 

 placed his boat and man at my disposal, I was enabled to examine 

 them during March, 1864, and found that Nos. 2 and 3 are Crannoges, 

 or artificial islands, while No. 4 may be one. 



No. 1 , or North Island. — This, by the Ordnance Survey Map, is 

 about 280 feet from the north shore ; but during the dry season it can be 

 approached by a peaty, reedy bank which runs from it towards the 

 N.-E. It is of a rude oval shape, the diameters being twenty-five and 

 sixteen yards long. "When visited, it was about a foot above the surface 

 of the water, and we excavated for over four feet in depth through peat 

 without finding any traces of ancient occupiers ; and as there are no 

 stones round the outside of it, we came to the conclusion that it was 

 not artificial. 



No. 2, or West Island. — This lies about 80 feet from the shore, to 

 which it is joined during the dry season. It is of a rude oval shape, 

 the diameters being about 33 and 15 yards; the outside is regularly 

 covered with flat stones. Most of it was covered with water when it 

 was visited ; we therefore excavated in the centre, where we found — 



Section No. 1 . 



Ft. In. 



Bog and clay, with a few bone 0 , 2 0 



Wood ashes, full of pieces of charred bones, . over, 1 6 



3 6 



No. 3, or Middle Island. — This lies about 500 feet from the nearest 

 shore, and 250 feet from the West Island. It is nearly round, and 

 about 32 yards in diameter. Outside it, for a width of about four yards, 

 there are regularly placed flat stones ; and we were informed by the 

 fishermen of the lake that during the summer, when the water is low, 

 piles can be seen all round it ; but, as the water was high at the time of 

 our visit, they could not be seen. 



On account of the height of the water and the porous nature of the 

 materials forming the island, we could not make a careful examination ; 

 but near the west shore, where the island was a foot above the surface 

 of the water, we made a small excavation, and found — 



Section No. 2. 



Ft. In. 



6. Peat and clay, about 0 9 



5. Peat and stones, with a few bones, ..... „ 09 

 4. Wood ashes and peat, with thousands of unbroken cherry- 

 stones, a few broken hazel nuts, a few broken bones, 

 teeth, and a ball of red colouring matter, ... „ 26 

 3. Basket floor, about one and a half inches thick, . . ,, 



2. Sawn oak beams, 8 by 6 inches, ,, 0 6 



1. Peat, over 0 6 



5 0 



E. I. A. PROC. VOL. IX. 2 A. 



