The dig has found remains of a "loch village", thought to be the first of its kind discovered in Scotland
Posted on 09/02/2013 8:26:58 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
The Wigtownshire dig was a small-scale pilot excavation of what was initially thought to be a crannog in the now-infilled Black Loch of Myrton, which was under threat of destruction as a result of drainage operations.
However during the excavation, AOC - which worked on the dig in conjunction with local volunteers - discovered evidence of multiple structures making up a small village.
What initially appeared to be one of a small group of mounds before excavation was revealed to be a massive stone hearth complex at the centre of a roundhouse.
The timber structure of the house has been preserved, with beams radiating out from the hearth forming the foundation, while the outer wall consists of a double-circuit of stakes.
The most surprising discovery was that the house was not built on top of an artificial foundation, but directly over the fen peat which had gradually filled in the loch.
Rather than being a single crannog, as first thought, it appears to be a settlement of at least seven houses built in the wetlands around the small loch.
This type of site is currently unique in Scotland and there are few other comparable sites elsewhere in the British Isles.
Similar lake villages - including Glastonbury and Meare, which is also in Somerset - have been found in England, but this is the first "loch village" to be uncovered in Scotland.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
The dig has found remains of a "loch village", thought to be the first of its kind discovered in Scotland
Archaeology can be fun.
...you will probably find another "village" below...
There is nothing new under the sun....a good place to "camp" has been a "good place to camp" for hundreds of thousands of years.
It's fun to read about it, but the actual digging looks like hard work to me.
Didn't the Monty Python crew pass through this place in one of their skits ??
It's fun to read about it, but the actual digging looks like hard work to me.
Yes, but still fun when you are a 19 year old university student...:^)
Work hard in the day, party at night with the other volunteers.
I spent a nice Easter week digging a Roman era village location near the Menai Bridge in Wales many years ago.
Very interesting.
The most surprising discovery was that the house was not built on top of an artificial foundation, but directly over the fen peat....
&&&
I wish they had explained 1) why that was surprising, and 2) how that could be a disadvantage or an advantage.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
