| dc.description.abstract | Crannogs are artificial islands found in Scottish and Irish
lochs. They were built as early as the late Bronze Age and
inhabited as late as the post-Mediaeval Period. Examinations,
surveys and excavations were carried outq mainly on drained
sites, in the nineteenth century. In the long term the ýarly
work has been neglected and the few rescue excavations from the
twentieth century have added little to the general view. This
study examines the shortcomings and problems of past research on
Scottish crannogs and explains why the time is now right for
further studies.
Past excavators indicated the excellent state of
preservation of organic materials on the waterlogged sites. They
ranged from textiles to timbers and if subjected to rigorous
study using modern archaeological techniques a great deal of
important information, not available from dry sitesp could become
available. The social conditions and lifestyle of past groups
and communities and their domestic, agricultural and industrial
skills may be seen with greater clarity. The relationship
between local contemporary groups may be examined and wider
regional contacts and influences become clearer.
The archaeological implications of draining totally
waterlogged sitesp the damage caused and the ensuing difficulties
of excavation are compared with the benefits and disadvantages of
excavation underwater.
In 1979 a survey of the crannogs in Loch Tay was carried out
to establish the number of sites in the loch, the
interrelationship of sites and their place in the landscape. The
form and quality of the remains were recorded with the ultimate
aim of establishing the suitability of a site for excavation.
The first underwater excavation of a crannog commenced in 1980
and the three seasons of work carried out so far are discussed.
The results have confirmed the excellent state of preservation of
environmental and archaeological materialp as indicated by past
work, and this thesis reports the technical feasibilityl
financial viability and archaeological value of excavating
crannogs underwater. | en |
