On the antiquity of the Irish crannogs, Sir W. R. Wilde writes as
follows:--"Certainly the evidences derived from the antiquities
found in ours, and which are chiefly of iron, refer them to a much
later period than the Swiss; while we do not find any flint arrows
or stone celts, and but very few bronze weapons, in our crannogs.
Moreover, we have positive documentary evidence of the occupation
of many of these fortresses in the time of Elizabeth, and some even
later."--(_Proceedings of Royal Irish Academy_, vol. vii. p. 152.)
Subsequent researches, however, have shown that all the desiderated
articles above mentioned have been found on crannogs. For instance,
amongst the remains described by Mr. Shirley, from the crannogs in
MacMahon's country, are stone celts, an arrow-head of flint, two
arrow-heads of bronze, three looped bronze celts, bronze knives,
etc.;[8] and G. H. Kinahan, Esq., M.R.I.A., thus concludes a short
notice on Irish Lake-Dwellings, contributed to Keller's book (2d edit.
p. 654):--"Of the time when the crannōgs were first built there is
no known record, but that they must have been inhabited at an early
period is evident, as antiquities belonging to the stone age are found
in them. Some were in use up to modern times, Crannough Macknavin,
County Galway, having been destroyed in A.D. 1610, by the English,
while Ballynahuish Castle was inhabited fifty years ago. Some crannōgs
seem to have been continuously occupied until they were finally
abandoned, while others were deserted for longer or shorter periods.
In Shore Island, Lough Rea, County Galway, there is a lacustrine
accumulation over 3 feet thick, marking the time that elapsed between
two occupations.
"In Wakefield's Island, A.D. 1812, attention was directed to a crannōg
in Lough Nahineb, County Tipperary; but to the late Sir W. R. Wilde,
M.D., is due the credit of bringing these structures prominently under
public notice. This observer records forty-six crannōgs (_Catalogue,
Royal Irish Academy_, vol. i. p. 220 _et seq._), but since then
twice as many have been recorded, most of which are described in the
publications of the Royal Irish Academy, or kindred Societies; but a
systematic classification of the crannōgs has yet to be made."
CONTINENTAL LAKE DWELLINGS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account