The Lake Dwellings of Ireland: Or ancient lacustrine habitations of Erin, commonly called crannogs.Wood-Martin, W. G. (William Gregory)
History
The Lake Dwellings of Ireland: Or ancient lacustrine habitations of Erin, commonly called crannogs.
Wood-Martin, W. G. (William Gregory)
Lake-dwellers and lake-dwellings -- Ireland
_Hammer-stones._--It cannot be doubted that in a few instances
the round stones, sometimes designated “sling-stones,” have been
artificially worked, but the great majority must be looked upon simply
as water-worn pebbles that had been utilized as hammer-stones. Many of
the egg-shaped specimens are more or less frayed or chipped at their
extremities; and similar stones, used, as is supposed, for breaking
crustacea, are common in the “shell mounds” on the coast, as also
amongst the “kitchen middens” of ancient settlements that abound within
the sand dunes of the north-western littoral of Ireland. A large flat
stone implement, with circular termination, rough sides, and polished
edges, was found in the crannog of “The Miracles,” county Fermanagh.
It measured about eleven inches by three, and was one inch thick. Its
flat end shows marks of wear, as if used for a pounding instrument.
A stone exactly similar was found in a “kitchen midden” at Ardnahue,
county Carlow, which had all the appearance of having been grasped in
the hand for use, hence the edges polished from constant friction.[103]
[Illustration: Fig. 37.--Stone Implement from the Crannog of “The
Miracles.”]
[Illustration: Fig. 38.
Lower Jaw of Sus scrofa.]
_Mammalia._--Amongst animal remains, those of the _Sus scrofa_ are very
numerous. This species of wild swine lived in the woods and marshes,
was long-faced, and had great length of tusks.
The accompanying illustration represents a lower jaw of this ancient
Irish pig, procured from the crannog of Lough Gur, county Limerick;
it is of a yellowish-brown colour, a hue that pervades all the animal
remains from that locality.
[Illustration: Fig. 39.--Head and Antlers of Cervus elephas.]
[Illustration: Fig. 40.
Fig. 41.
Fig. 42.
Crania of Goats.]
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