We then commenced digging a few feet to the west of the centre of the mound, and soon cleared a trench from 3 to 4 feet deep, about a couple of yards broad, and directed almost due north and south. About 25 feet from the outer trench, measuring northwards, and 53 feet in the opposite direction, we came upon the south edge of a smooth pavement neatly constructed of flat stones. Judging from ashes, charcoal, and small bits of burnt bones which were here observed, that this pavement was a fireplace, we thought it better in the meantime to leave it intact; so we formed another trench at a width of 8 to 10 feet, at right angles to the former, and just touching the southern edge of the pavement, which was continued eastwards till it touched the platform already described. A circular trench was then made round this pavement, at a breadth of about 4 feet, leaving it, with its superincumbent soil, standing in the centre. We had thus a considerable space cleared out at a uniform level, with a small portion of the pavement visible, and an oval-shaped mass of soil about 4 feet in diameter above the rest of it. In the course of these excavations we found three upper quern stones, portions of other two, a wooden vessel in two fragments, a large quartz pebble (Fig. 37), with markings as if made by a hammer on its surface, portion of a pointed horn (Fig. 91), some bones, one or two hammer-stones, and a boar's tusk. [Illustration: Fig. 36.--Mortised Beam with portion of an upright (scale 1/2 inch to the foot).] [Illustration: Fig. 37.--Quartz Pebble (1/8).] [Illustration: Fig. 38.--Diagram of Excavation. T, Outer circular trench with stuff thrown outwards. DD, Trenches near centre of crannog. A, Mortised beams at north-east corner. E, Rude platform adjacent to mortised beams. P, LP, Upper and lower pavements or hearths, with stakes surrounding them. GG, Horizontal beams on level with lower pavement. B, Main drain passing through the mound. F, Undisturbed mound. CC, Two transverse beams lying across near the bottom of trench, with a square-cut hole in each, but not containing uprights.]