Dowalton Loch

NX44NW 3 4076 4694.

(NX 4076 4694) Lake Dwelling (NR)

OS 6" map (1957)

This crannog (No:3 on sketch plan accompanying NX44NW 2), was exposed in 1863 when Dowalton Loch was drained, and was excavated in that year by Lord Percy. It was nearly circular, 13 yds in diameter, and its construction was similar to NX44NW 2. Its surface was c.5 1/2' above the mud, and on each side of it were two patches of stone nearly touching it, probably acting as a jetty or pier. It was also surrounded by an immense number of piles, with masses of stone laid amongst them, extending 20 yds around it.

An oak dug-out canoe lay on the N side of the crannog, between the two patches of stone mentioned, and surrounded by piles, the tops of which showed just above the mud. The excavation revealed animal teeth under the stones covering the crannog's surface, and at the S end, ashes, con/ containing teeth and burnt bones, were found. Part of a yellow enamelled glass armlet (Kilbride-Jones' type 3B), and two pieces of a blue and white glass amrlet (type 3C), both types probably dating to the early 2nd century AD, a broken glass bead, and a small metal ornament were all found outside the islet, about 2' from the surface.

This crannog was further excavated in 1884 when the remains of a 9' diameter circle of upright posts was located in its centre. Inside this area were ashes and charred stones, and among the debris, a piece of 1st century Samian pottery, fragments of opaque white glass armlets (type 3A - probably early 2nd century AD), a piece of polished stone, a flint flake, an earthenware bead, and a shale ring, were found. All the finds from both excavations are in the NMAS.

A copper coin was also found near this crannog. It is of doubtful character, but does not appear to be of any great age, and could have been dropped in the loch at any time.

J Stuart 1868; R Munro 1885; J Curle 1932; H E Kilbride-Jones 1938;

NMAS 1892

The area, in water-logged scrub, was inaccessible at time of visit and is likely to remain so. From a distance, no trace could be seen of the crannog.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 20 August 1970.

(Dowalton Loch 2). Lovaine describes the discovery of a 'canoe of oak...surrounded by piles' on the N side of the crannog that was formerly situated 550m SW of Stonehouse farmsteading. Excavation revealed that the logboat lay within what was possibly a dock or similar structure.

The boat itself measured 24' (7.3m) in length, 4'2" (1.3m) in beam amidships and 7" (178mm) in depth. The floor of the boat was 2" (51mm) thick. On the self-evident basis that the sides were found incomplete, the only possible calculation is that of the slenderness coefficient, which falls within the mid-range of the sample at 5.76.

A further (undated) drawing in the manuscript collection of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is untitled but appears (on the basis of the annotated dimensions) to depict this vessel under the heading of 'No. 1. Larger Canoe'. The vessel is depicted in plan, starboard elevation and cross-section and is shown as having been reduced to a nearly-flat plank, with only a slight rise at the bow; at the stern there is an enigmatic (and unnoted) downwards slope which may represent a split originating from a transom-groove. The bow has evidently been of pointed or rounded point form, and the bottom rises steeply into the sides while the inner surface of the vessel is rounded within the quarters. The small and irregular feature that is depicted (but not annotated) on the centreline at 60% of the length (from the bow) cannot be identified, but need not, perhaps, be original.

On the basis of this drawing, the form of the vessel was dissimilar-ended and the McGrail morphology code 1xx:2xx:33x or 44x:2xx:33x. It is unclear whether the vessel was flared or rectangular in cross-section.

R J C Mowat 1996.

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland manuscript no. SAS MS/198.