Crookboat, Carmichael

NS83NE 4 89 39.

An ebony casket and heart-shaped stone were found together in a box, while trenching the ground at Crockbet (Crookboat) in the parish of Carmichael, Lanarkshire.

The inside of the lid of the casket bears a plate of lead, in the centre of which is a small lozenge shaped plate of copper. The copper piece bears the date '1588' and the lead plate bears the etched inscription "Anadoma TS WS. Made by George Heariot". The box contained a large rough pearl, various specimens of crystal, amethyst, and quartz, many of which are polished at the natural facets; and also a number of small pebbles or agates of different colours.

The stone is a nodule of clay Ironstone (with a copper handle) and, at one of the handle, on a hexagonal plate, "AD 1200 MS" (Note: the figure supplied shows it to read "AD 1280 MS").

It has the appearance of having been used as a charm, and its nature and lettering suggests a possible association with the celebrated wizard, Michael Scott of Balwearie.

Presented to the Museum by the Hon the Lords of the Treasury as Treasure Trove - 1865 (Accession No NT 37,38)

Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1868 (Donations); National Musuem of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS) Catalogue 1892.

Local enquiries at Crookboat failed to reveal any additional information.

Visited by OS(JD) 31 March 1955.

Site recorded during an archaeological evaluation conducted on 30 alternative route elements, with a combined length of c84km, for a proposed road linking the M8 near Whitburn, Lothian Region with the M6/M74 near Douglas, Clydesdale District.

NS83NE 4 Find-spot of ebony casket

An illustrated report will be deposited with the NMRS.

Sponsor: Roads Directorate of The Scottish Office Industry Department, managed on its behalf by Historic Scotland.

A J Dunwell and R J Strachan 1995.