Croft-na-caber, Loch Tay, Crannog Reconstruction Project
Crannog (20th Century), Experimental Archaeology Site (20th Century), Visitor Centre (20th Century), Logboat
Site Name Croft-na-caber, Loch Tay, Crannog Reconstruction Project
Classification Crannog (20th Century), Experimental Archaeology Site (20th Century), Visitor Centre (20th Century), Logboat
Alternative Name(s) Portbane Cottage; Kenmore; Scottish Crannog Centre
Canmore ID 80154
Site Number NN74SE 30
NGR NN 7703 4489
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/80154
- Council Perth And Kinross
- Parish Kenmore (Perth And Kinross)
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Perth And Kinross
- Former County Perthshire
NN74SE 30 7703 4489
Generalised reconstruction of pole-supported crannog being built; two timbers of probable logboat discovered in area of outer pile-ring but not yet recovered.
Information from Dr TN Dixon (STUA/EUDA) 6 September 1994.
A logboat exceeding 10m in length was discovered this summer in the shallows of Loch Tay during construction of a replica crannog off the Croft-na-Caber Activities Centre at Kenmore.
The boat was found lying on its side, with the upper side detached from the base. The lower side and stern of the boat are well preserved with clear evidence of tool marks. A deep groove at the stern contained moss caulking which has been sampled for analysis, and samples from the boat itself will be collected for dating. Excavation is still under way at the time of writing.
Sponsor: Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology.
B Andrian 1994.
In 1994 the remains of a logboat were discovered during the experimental construction of a replica crannog for public exhibition in shallow water off the Croft-na-Caber watersport activities centre near the NE end of Loch Tay. It is impossible to exclude the possibility that this is a re-discovery of the possible example noted at Portbane (NN74SE 14).
Loch Tay is situated in a deep glaciated valley in the Trossachs at an altitude of 107m OD. Within the extensive area of its waters there are at least seventeen crannogs (one of which, at Oakbank, has been excavated) and a medieval priory-island, but none of these monuments is in the vicinity of the logboat. The published attribution of this boat to Oakbank crannog (NN74SW 16) is erroneous.
The vessel has been recorded (and remains) in situ. It is of oak, in two portions, and measures between 8m and 10m in length by 0.85m in breadth. Caulking material and toolmarks have been recognised within the transom-groove.
B Andrian 1994; B Andrian 1995; Nautical Archaeology Society 1995; R J C Mowat 1996; information from Dr TN Dixon.
NMRS, B98367/NC and B98369/NC.
Construction of the replica crannog (by the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology) began in June 1994, and it was opened to the public in July 1997, as the Scottish Crannog Centre. Experimental archaeological interest centres on the use of traditional materials, and the way in which these withstand harsh winter conditions. Monitoring will be conducted over the years to asess the rate of deterioration of various parts of the structure.
The structure comprises a freestanding timber platform supported on piles, and connected to the shore by a timber walkway 16m long. The piles are of alder and oak, measure between 7 and 9m in length, and are driven into the lakebed sediments in water 3m deep. On the platform, there is a roundhouse with a reed-thatched roof (secured by lashings, rather than pegs or pins); bracken may have been used in antiquity. There is no smokehole. Wattle walls and internal partitions surround a central hearth of stones set on a clay base. Much use is made of hazel hurdlework, the walls being double-skinned and the intervening space packed with reeds and moss, which could be removed in summer. Hides and skins are hung within the interior, and the wall is not daubed, which practice would make the interior very dark. The floors are made of small alder trees laid parallel, and are covered with bracken.
Displays for visitors take place in buildings on the shore, and include foremaking, spinning and weaving, and woodworking.
[Numerous illustrations].
N Dixon 2000.
(Site-name cited as Kenmore). This logboat has yielded a radiocarbon determination of 3230±50 bp (GU-10558), which may be calibrated to between 1630 and 1400 BC (1 sigma) or 1530 and 1430 BC (2 sigma). [Location of sample not stated].
The boat (NO21NW 161) from Carpow Bank at the head of the Tay estuary is of comparable date.
(Information from B Andrian).
R Strachan 2004.
Field Visit (18 April 2012 - 20 April 2012)
NN 7700 4488 A scuba and snorkelling survey was carried out, 18–20 April 2012, across the area of a proposed breakwater development, associated with a proposed redevelopment of the Taymouth Marina. The area was considered sensitive due to the discovery of an intact Bronze Age log boat to the N of the Crannog Centre during its construction in 1982, and the presence of a large number of crannogs in the loch, which provide evidence for exploitation of the loch.
The surface of the loch bed in the development area was largely devoid of visible archaeological features. All but one of the objects noted was modern in date. The single feature of interest was a flat linear wooden object at least 3m long, the upper surface of which was slightly concave. As it was located within c40m of a confirmed Bronze Age log boat, it was considered that this object was potentially archaeologically significant. Although the feature was partially exposed and photographed, the scope of the survey did not allow for further investigation. Further work is required to confirm the nature of the feature.
Archive: RCAHMS (intended). Report: Perth and Kinross HER and RCAHMS
Funder: McKenzie Strickland Associates
John McCarthy, WA Coastal and Marine, 2013
(Source: DES)
Field Visit (16 August 2014)
NN 77043 44910 Construction on this replica crannog, built by the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology, was begun in June 1994 on the waters of Loch Tay and the building opened it’s doors to the public as part of the Scottish Crannog Centre in July 1997. An excerpt from text on Canmore about the crannog (taken from Crannogs of Loch Tay,. N Dixon, 2000) states that the building has a reed-thatched roof ‘secured by lashings, rather than pegs or pins’. and suggests that ’bracken may have been used in antiquity’. The thatch at the apex of the conical roof has been secured with five rings of spars, which appear to be made from hazel. The thatch, which is a replica of a crannog and uses traditional construction techniques and materials, has been left uncovered. Above the door openings to the south, the thatch has been sculpted along the eaves to allow entry.
Visited by Zoe Herbert (SPAB) 16 August 2014, survey no.152
