In the foregoing chapters I have recorded nearly all the facts hitherto derived from the explorations of Scottish Lake-Dwellings, together with a few meagre notices of their former existence supplied by historical research. Notwithstanding the variety and number of objects found in these remains, and the copiousness of details with which the investigations are described, it may still be doubted whether the time has arrived for applying to them the rigid principles of induction, with the view of materially enlarging our knowledge of the early inhabitants of this country. However much variety or novelty may add to the interest attached to antiquarian discoveries, it must never be forgotten that their scientific value is to be determined by the extent to which they can be made to enrich our knowledge of the past phases of human civilisation. While, therefore, fully conscious, on the one hand, of the danger of drawing a series of inferences from too limited an experience, on the other, I feel that to ignore altogether such oft-recurring questions as--When did these lake-dwellings flourish? For what purpose were they constructed? And what grade of civilisation characterised their occupiers?--would be tantalising, if not uncourteous, to general readers who have so far perused the mass of dry details here presented to them. In attempting, therefore, to deal with the scientific aspect of these discoveries, I do not for a moment profess such a minute acquaintance with the science of archæology as to entitle me even to attempt a full exposition of the inferences that may be derived from their careful study and comparison with other antiquarian remains; nor, indeed, do I believe that it is within the province of any one man to give a final decision, as it were _ex cathedra_, on a group or groups of remains that include such comprehensive materials as the products of the art, industry, culture, and social economy of a people existing during an undefined period of time, and lying, in a large measure, outside the pale of our historical records. My purpose therefore is, while endeavouring to gratify the laudable curiosity of general readers, to present archæologists with a rough skeleton, which they are invited, piecemeal fashion, to mould into a shapely figure by their combined and varied experience. To accomplish this object there are certain historical and other collateral phenomena which, I think, help to circumscribe the general sphere of the problems at issue, and which, therefore, fall to be discussed alongside of the inductions derived from the actual materials now before us. In consequence of the diversity of the phenomena thus appealed to, I have grouped their details under the following sections, by means of which I hope to bring the general effect of their chronological bearing into greater prominence:-- 1. Classification and geographical distribution of ancient Scottish lake-dwellings.