South
West Scotland Crannog Survey
The first
phase of the South-West Scotland Crannog Survey, the
primary fieldwork for which was carried out in 1989,
examined the assumption that submerged crannogs were
relatively stable while their counterparts on drained
land were rapidly decaying. The work, presented in two
publications - Barber & Crone (1993) and Crone (1993)
- confirmed the latter assumption but, more perhaps more
significantly, challenged the former. While clear
indications of the accelerated organic decay of sites on
drained land were obtained, it was also suggested that
submerged sites were suffering from the infestation of
underwater plant and animal life due to high levels of
biological activity present in certain lochs (Barber
& Crone 1993, 528). The results of the 1989 survey
demonstrated that crannogs in south west Scotland, both
on dry land and underwater, are undergoing organic decay
on a scale that is significantly devaluing their
potential archaeological value. However, it was not
possible to fully establish the condition of the
surviving crannogs by superficial examination alone and
no attempt was made to assess their stability.
Diver survey of crannogs |
Timber subject to advanced organic
decay at Loch Arthur (scale 20 cm) |
| The
aim of the current phase of the South-West
Crannog Survey, which began in 2002, is to
establish an effective system of monitoring the
rate of organic decay on crannog sites in
different environments (submerged and on land) in
an effort to provide accurate data on the
sustainability of the crannog resource throughout
south-west Scotland. It is hoped that this
monitoring will identify the mechanisms and
causes of organic decay in the area. Using the
information gathered during this survey,
appropriate management strategies will be
designed to ensure the maximum preservation of
crannog sites in the south west. 
Clear tool facets on ash piles
recovered from the White Loch of Myrton crannog
(scale 10 cm)
The
project is grant aided by Historic Scotland and
is being conducted by UARC and AOC Archaeology as
part of the Scottish Wetland Archaeology
Programme (SWAP).
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