A new chronology for crannogs in north-east Scotland

Abstract

This article presents the results of a programme of investigation which aimed to construct a more detailed understanding of the character and chronology of crannog occupation in north-east Scotland, targeting a series of sites across the region. The emerging pattern revealed through fieldwork in the region shows broad similarities to the existing corpus of data from crannogs in other parts of the country. Crannogs in north-east Scotland now show evidence for origins in the Iron Age. Further radiocarbon evidence has emerged from crannogs in the region revealing occupation during the 9th–10th centuries ad, a period for which there is little other settlement evidence in the area. Additionally, excavated contexts dated to the 11th–12th centuries and historic records suggest that the tradition of crannog dwelling continued into the later medieval period. Overall, the recent programme of fieldwork and dating provides a more robust foundation for further work in the region and can help address questions concerning the adoption of the practice of artificial island dwelling across Scotland through time.

New integrated molecular approaches for investigating lake settlements in north-western Europe

“…Estimates of the number of crannogs in Scotland and Ireland vary for several reasons, including definitional uncertainties and the uneven distribution and coverage of crannog surveys. The latter include the Republic of Ireland, south-west and north-east Scotland and the Northern Isles (Morrison 1985; Farrell et al 1989; Stratigos & Noble 2018; Cavers & Henderson 2002; Henderson et al 2003, 2021; Stratigos 2021). The overall distribution of crannogs is relatively even across both countries, with some probably genuine gaps, such as in south-west Ireland and south-east Scotland, and hotspots, such as in the northern midlands of Ireland (Figure 1).…”

Old Kinord, Aberdeenshire

“…The Howe of Cromar contains a notable concentration of stone circles, three of which have been investigated in recent years (Bradley & Nimura 2016: ch 9). The area was also a focus of later activity, with an important series of early medieval carved stones -one cross-slab is still displayed close to the Old Kinord site (NGR: NO 44000 99787, Canmore ID 33981) and there are two early medieval crannogs in Loch Kinord (Stratigos & Noble 2017). The area was equally important during the Roman Iron Age.…”