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Cults Loch

Crannog (Prehistoric)

Site Name Cults Loch

Classification Crannog (Prehistoric)

Alternative Name(s) Cults Loch 1, Castle Kennedy House

Canmore ID 61693

Site Number NX16SW 14

NGR NX 12059 60474

NGR Description Centre

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

C14 Radiocarbon Dating

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/61693

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Digital Images

Administrative Areas

  • Council Dumfries And Galloway
  • Parish Inch
  • Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
  • Former District Wigtown
  • Former County Wigtownshire

Archaeology Notes

NX16SW 14 1206 6047

For further possible crannogs in Cults Loch, see NX16SW 109 and NX16SW 110.

(NX 1206 6047) Lake Dwelling (NR) (Site of)

OS 6" map (1957)

A crannog formed of stones and also numerous beams and stakes along the shore of the loch were observed here by Rev. George Wilson in 1872.

G Wilson MS. notes in NMAS; RCAHMS 1912.

No trace of any beams or stakes was seen along the shore of the loch. At present there is no means of access to the crannog site.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 29 February 1968

(NX 1206 6047) Crannog (NR)

OS 1:10000 map (1979)

At the date of visit the water level in the loch was high. The crannog was not visited and nothing was visible of the beams and stakes noted by Wilson along the shore of the loch. Earlier in the year, however, Mrs J Murray discovered the remains of timbers around a low promontory near the NW end of the loch (NX 1202 6557).

RCAHMS 1987, visited (SH) April 1986

As the underwater component of Phase 2 of the South West Crannog Survey, the state of preservation of 14 crannog sites was evaluated in 12 lochs throughout Dumfries and Galloway as part of the Scottish Wetland Archaeology Programme (SWAP).

NX 1206 6047. Visible above the water level as a reed-covered island measuring 7.5 x 5.1m, the crannog site proper consists of a submerged silty mound measuring 19.5m N-S by 17m, and rising c 2.5m above the loch bed. Despite zero underwater visibility, structural timbers were detected in several places, occurring within the matrix silts on the slopes of the crannog mound. These timbers are alder and oak, and one burnt example was observed.

Sponsors: HS, Scottish Trust for Archaeological Research, AOC Archaeology Group, University of Nottingham

M G Cavers and J C Henderson 2002

The second season of the South West Crannog Survey Phase 2 was carried out in September 2003 (DES 2002, 25-7) and comprised detailed digital survey of submerged and dry areas of selected crannog sites in Dumfries and Galloway. Small-scale underwater excavations were also carried out in order to stabilise and record exposed eroding timbers. The project was conducted by the Underwater Archaeology Research Centre as part of the Scottish Wetland Archaeology Programme (SWAP).

NX 1206 6047 Cults Loch 1. A survey of the submerged and dry areas of the site was undertaken. Zero visibility in the loch meant that visual inspection was impossible, though the reduced loch level had exposed several oak horizontal timbers on top of the site.

Full report to be lodged with the NMRS.

Sponsors: HS, Scottish Trust for Archaeological Research, Nottingham University, AOC Archaeology Group.

J C Henderson and M G Cavers 2003

Cults Loch 1 (Piltanton catchment): location cited as NX 1206 6047.

This crannog is of stone construction, and was first noted in 1872. The loch was temporarily drained some 40 years ago, allowing pedestrian access. Its remains were surveyed in July 2002 during the 2nd phase of the South-West Scotland Crannog Survey, with the intention of establishing an effective system of monitoring the rate of organic decay. In the absence of threat from erosion or organic decay, the major threat was identified as possibility of drainage; monitoring of the loch level was recommended.

The location of the submerged crannog is indicated by a superimposed reedy peat bank, which measures about 7.5m from N to S by 5.1m transversely. Underwater observation (carried out by touch alone, in conditions of sediment suspension) revealed the crannog itself as a silty mound which measures some 19.5m from N to S by 17m transversely and projects above the loch bed to a height of about 2.6m.

Abundant evidence of structural timbers could be detected beneath a layer of silt (1 or 2m thick) which covered the entire monument. Most timbers lie horizontal and others at 45°; all are very secure and form part of the mound matrix. They appear to comprise a mixture of oak and alder; one of them was noted as burnt. Two vertical piles were noted off the NW margins of the mound.

Two piles (one of oak and one of alder) were sampled for radiocarbon dating; the latter contained a mortise hole. [No result cited].

J C Henderson, B A Crone and M G Cavers 2003.

A third season of fieldwork and survey (see DES 2003, 42-3) on selected crannog sites in Dumfries and Galloway was carried out in July 2004 as part of the Scottish Wetland Archaeology Programme (SWAP). This comprised the underwater examination of six crannog sites selected for monitoring, the installation and surveying of monitoring probes at those sites, and the sampling of timbers from Loch Heron for radiocarbon dating.

NX 1206 6047 Cults Loch (Inch parish), NX16SW 14.

NX 2717 6482 Loch Heron (Kirkcowan parish), NX26SE 2.

NX 9028 6898 Loch Arthur (New Abbey parish), NX96NW 1.

NX 2047 5631 Whitefield Loch (Old Luce parish), NX25NW 7.

NX 2595 5915 Barhapple Loch (Old Luce parish), NX25NE 2.

NX 2047 5631 Barlockhart (Old Luce parish), NX25NW 7.

NX 8388 7188 Milton Loch (Urr parish), NX87SW 4.

Sponsors: HS, Scottish Trust for Archaeological Research, University of Nottingham, AOC Archaeology Group, Underwater Archaeology Research Centre.

J Henderson and M G Cavers 2004.

Activities

Note (1912)

Crannog, Cults Loch.

The O.S. map marks the site of a crannog in Cults Loch, a small sheet of water to the E. of the southern end of the Loch of Inch. A crannog formed of stones was observed here by the Rev. George Wilson in 1872, as also numerous beams and stakes along the shore.

See Rev. George Wilson's MS. Notes (Nat. Mus. Ant.), pp. 294-95.

O.SM., WIGTOWN, xviii. NW.

Diver Inspection (July 2004 - July 2004)

A third season of fieldwork and survey (see DES 2003, 42-3) on selected crannog sites in Dumfries and Galloway was carried out in July 2004 as part of the Scottish Wetland Archaeology Programme (SWAP). This comprised the underwater examination of six crannog sites selected for monitoring, the installation and surveying of monitoring probes at those sites, and the sampling of timbers from Loch Heron for radiocarbon dating.

NX 1206 6047 Cults Loch (Inch parish), NX16SW 14.

NX 2717 6482 Loch Heron (Kirkcowan parish), NX26SE 2.

NX 9028 6898 Loch Arthur (New Abbey parish), NX96NW 1.

NX 2047 5631 Whitefield Loch (Old Luce parish), NX25NW 7.

NX 2595 5915 Barhapple Loch (Old Luce parish), NX25NE 2.

NX 2047 5631 Barlockhart (Old Luce parish), NX25NW 7.

NX 8388 7188 Milton Loch (Urr parish), NX87SW 4.

Sponsors: HS, Scottish Trust for Archaeological Research, University of Nottingham, AOC Archaeology Group, Underwater Archaeology Research Centre.

J Henderson and M G Cavers 2004.

Note (26 January 2022)

The location, classification and period of this site have been reviewed.

References

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