Rough Loch, Airylick

NX34NW 15 3179 4919

(NX 31794919) Lake Dwelling (NR).

OS 6" map (1957)

Rough Loch has been drained and is now a moss. A crannog, situated towards its centre, described as a circular enclosure 54', in diameter, surrounded by a low wall, was examined and excavated in 1884 by members of the Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Archaeological Association. On being dug into the usual details including piles of a crannog were met with. A novel feature was a fence of flagstones, about 3' high, encircling the crannog. Among the relics found, now in the NMAS, were seventeen small beads of scarlet vitreous slag, a shale ring 1 5/16" in diameter, an ornamental button-like bronze object, hammer-and grinding-stones and fragments of crucibles (Acc Nos HT 27-62).

R Munro 1885; RCAHMS 1912.

Situated in a level marshy area are the remains of a crannog. It survives as a near circular stone wall 18.5m N-S, 17.5m E-W, 0.6m high and spread to 1.5m. The flagstones mentioned by the previous authority are only visible in the northern quadrant where they protrude 0.3m above ground level.

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (TRG) 6 July 1976

NX 3179 4918 Rough Loch. A contour survey was carried out of the standing remains of the crannog at Rough Loch (NX34NW 15). The site is nearly inaccessible, being surrounded by very wet marshland, but it has been spared from destruction by the forestry ploughing which covers much of the adjacent area. The site itself survives as a tree-covered stony mound in a forest clearing. The diameter of the stone mound, as it is presently visible above the deep peat deposits which surround the site, is about 23m. This overall diameter represents the stone spread from a heavy circular stone wall constructed on the surface of the site, the facing stones of which are visible on the N side of the site, surviving to at least four courses (c 0.6m) high. The interior facing of this wall is now obscured by rubble tumble, but it seems likely that the wall was no thinner than 3.5m thick. The position of the entrance is not apparent, and although the wall is reduced in height on the SW corner it is not clear to what extent antiquarian interventions have disturbed the perimeter wall.

Sponsors: Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, University of Nottingham.

M G Cavers 2004.