Reconstructing Oakbank Crannog

Page 4 of 8

• 1. Pioneering excavations
• 2. Houses on water
• 3. Foundations
• 4. Experimental technology
• 5. Interpreting the evidence
• 6. Iron Age artefact
• 7. Ecological clues
• 8. The future of our past
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Experimental technology

While the crannog was created as authentically as possible, the reconstruction cannot be totally accurate as there is no complete example from which to work, and the excavation at Oakbank was not finished as the reconstruction progressed.

There may be other, better preserved structural information in lower deposits, and excavations of other contemporary crannogs in the future may provide details to fill the gaps in our knowledge. Archaeology makes an invaluable contribution in this respect - no one can answer many of the questions raised at Oakbank with certainty until there is evidence.

'These houses were clearly designed to withstand gale force wind and waves ...'

A great deal has been learned by constructing this building, and this continues to be the case as the crannog is monitored and maintained. The logic of a free-standing structure in a high-energy loch becomes apparent whenever there is a storm. These houses were clearly designed to withstand gale force wind and waves, and so far the reconstruction has withstood wind speeds in excess of 100mph.

It is, however, a living structure, which requires a rolling programme of repairs to maintain it in good order. This problem is probably exacerbated by the building being open to the public, but untreated trees do not last forever, and the excavation evidence points to similar problems experienced by our Iron Age ancestors.

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Published: 2005-01-25