Loch Tay's Crannog reconstruction - a photo on Flickriver

Loch Tay runs parallel to the south of Loch Ness, two diagonals flanking either side of the Cairngorm mountains. Both Lochs are fresh water and provide directions of flow. 23km for Loch Tay against Loch Ness's 38km. Towards the Aberfeldy end of Loch Tay is the Scottish Crannog centre (above), with the village of Killin behind its far western end. Killin is known from the 1935 Hitchcock film 'The 39 steps', which includes some great 'photographic' cinema of open Highlands - including an actor dressed as a policeman slipping into a surging Scottish waterfall (looking like a real accident that was kept for the film). These outdoor shots carry on from his 1929 film 'The Manxman' which is very rich with dramatic and cleverly filtered BW shots of traditional crofting life in the Isle of Mann. Hitchcock would later bring fame to the 'Exakta VX camera' in his beautifully lit, 'theatrical' film 'Rear Window". Hitchcock's cameo for the 1937 film 'Young and innocent' sees him fiddling about with an early mini camera. I am not aware that the make of the camera has been ascertained, but 1937 was also the year that the first 35mm film appeared and it may be an early Agfa with Hitchcock fumbling disapproval of the smaller format in perhaps his most narratively important cameo. In 'The 39 Steps', the location of Killin was the address of an important local figure whose loyalty and behaviours were linked with central European anti-politic. Only six years later, Rudolf Hess would parachute onto a field to the south of Glasgow...

Neolithic and bronze age and beyond - stilted buildings exist the world over, and they leave post holes and water logged timbers. Experimental archaeological reconstructions of lake side buildings can be seen reaching into waters like fantasy sea-side piers (Unteruhldingen, Germany 7,000 to 2,500 YBP) or simply as raised villages (La Draga Spain 7,400 and 7000 YBP). The above 'crannog' seems to be styled of a Swiss etching from the 1880s :
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PSM_V24_D321_A_primitive_...
The artificial Iron age man-made 'island', so typical of the crannog's definition, is missing from the above reconstruction, with the explanation given that the 'island' came from reinforcing posts as a deposition over the years. I'm not sure about this... Today most would agree that the Alpine stilted buildings were built on dry land next to lakes, and that the stilts were to assure comfort and protection of goods from seasonal flooding and earthquake induced lake tsunamis that rhythm Alpine life. Unlike the Alps, Scottish rain waters flow quickly to sea, and true summer droughts are as rare as large Scottish earthquakes. By comparison, deep lochs tend to hold their levels throughout the year. Crannogs are always inside the perimeter of their body of water, and may have been specific designs adapted to the crofting lifestyle of the lake rich geographies of Ireland and Scotland, and not imported culture from central Europe. Archaeological digs of crannogs come up with few residues of the everyday objects associated with roundhouses and explanations aside habitation may be required. Crannogs can also sit wide within a vista of other hut circles from ancient crofts. Talk of them as defensive reactions to social conditions also seem to misread their fragility as they have few escape opportunities and, with their proximity to the shore, obstruction by fire seems all too easy. Examples have also been found with stones but no timber (Loch na Gile), so it would seem that the physical island had its reason aside the addition of a building. I propose a detailed alternative explanation for crannogs in the text associated with the image posted below, focusing on potential synergies between fishing and low quantity livestock and hunting regimes.

Another vivid reconstruction of a Crannog can be seen towards the top side of the Brecon Beacons at Llangorse in south Wales, and there is also a fantastic reconstruction that includes a firm man-made island over in County Down near Castle Espie on the shores of Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland.

AJM 18.12.18

Taken on: August 23, 2018

Tags:

stilt house

pile dwelling

Loch Tay

Scotland

Perthshire

British Isles

Iron age

experimental archaeology

reconstruction

Duck

Takuar 35mm f2 « less

Sets appears in: • Earthworks • Crannog

Groups appears in: • Archaeology • Pentax Primes more » • National Geographic Society « less

Camera: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. PENTAX K-3, 1/160 sec, 35mm (=52mm), ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. PENTAX K-3
Exposure Time:	0.006 sec (1/160)
Focal Length:	35mm (35mm equivalent: 52mm)
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 7.0 (Windows)
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