Waterland–People: On Structure and Origin of Crannogs ...

CHAPTER 6. INTERPRETATION AND 6.4. DISCUSSION
LOGBOATS AND BURNT MOUNDS
board’ that dated to 1043±110 BC and had been converted into a trough. It’s location
was rather interesting, too, as it had sunk into the ’edge of the lake–bed where it was
firmly wedged between four upright posts; further posts were found flanking the trough
which was interpreted as having been incorporated into the lower part of an artificial
platform, the upper parts of which had been destroyed by fire. [...] The location is noted
as not being a lake of navigable size, while lacustrine deposits were not revealed by
geological sampling. The discovery is re–interpreted as that of a bothy and work–site of
comparatively recent date, based on a perpetual supply of seepage–water for steeping or
soaking, and a supply of poles. Skin–dressing, flax–retting and basket–making are all
considered possible explanations.’ (Mowat 1996, 148).
Suggesting the re–use of logboats in the absence of any trees for building troughs in
Orkney, the crannogs or other lake–side sites that could be associated with the boat would
certainly pre–date the burnt mound. Troughs can, nevertheless, easily be build out of
large slabs of stone. The area around Loch Bosquoy, though, is lacking a natural quarry
and the re–use of building material seems to be the method of choice. The only noted
buildings close are the brochs Burrian at the E shore of Loch Harray and Bosquoy on the
other side of the loch, but without excavation, not much can be said.
However, the burnt mounds or mounds of burnt stones constitute the most numerous
class of antiquity in Orkney with over 200 known sites and another 200 in Shetland. The
density of this site type therefore exceeds that of any other in Britain with the exception
of the bronze age round barrow in some areas.
A mound of burnt stones is a low heap of fire-affected stones intermixed with backened
earth, between 1.5 m height and 20 m width. Some have upright slabs and narrow cells,
stone tanks and are close to the water, a stream or boggy ground and come in groups.
The shape is irregular or horseshoe like in plan with the concave part facing the water
(Huxtable et al. 1976, 5).
The excavation at Liddle Farm in South Ronaldsay revealed 200 m 3 of burnt stone, ash
charcoal, the remains of a small oval house, 6 x 4 m solidly build of stone, a large hearth
and a stone build trough. Very few artefacts and no bone and shell were found (Hedges
1974, 8) and it was dated to 900–500 BC (Hedges 1974, 10). Fluxgate gradiometry
showes strong permanent magnetic effects and increased magnetic susceptibility as a
result of heating which gives geophysical confirmation even when the site is entirely
covered with vegetation (Hedges 1974, 8–9).
Hedges (Hedges 1974, 8) suggests the majority of burnt mounds was used for cooking
but were primarily settlements because:
1. The large number of sites prevents specialization to be the case
2. No other types are known in Orkney for that period
3. Quality of construction is high
The limited use of pottery could relate to the absence of wood as fuel since cooking pots
on peatfire would not survive the heat, that is, if the peat that was fired was of normal
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