An archaeobotanical investigation of Oakbank crannog, a prehistoric lake dwelling in Loch Tay, the Scottish Highlands
Oakbank crannog is a Late Bronze/Early Iron Age lake dwelling in Loch Tay, Scotland. The initial free-standing pile construction was rebuilt several times, resulting in an organic mound. The latest remaining consolidation phase incorporated large boulders which sealed the organic material underneath and preserved waterlogged remains of the plants utilised by earlier inhabitants. The base-rich soil of the local environment around the dwelling supported a mixed oak woodland with alder carr in the wetter areas and fringing the loch. Parts of this were cleared for agriculture by the earliest settlers, and woodland trees were utilised to build the dwelling, most especially alder, but also frequently oak, hazel and birch, with others occasionally at low levels. Cereal crops grown included Hordeum vulgare, Triticum dicoccum and T. spelta. Spelt wheat implies trade links with the south of the country or abroad. Linum usitatissiumum was cultivated on a small scale, possibly together with Papaver somniferum, another species which has implications for trade. The abundance of crop contaminant weed species emphasises the soil fertility, and suggests that cereal crops were neither weeded nor hand-picked on the ear. Seeds
Miller, Jennifer Jane
QK Botany
An archaeobotanical investigation of Oakbank crannog, a prehistoric lake dwelling in Loch Tay, the Scottish Highlands. Oakbank crannog is a Late Bronze/Early Iron Age lake dwelling in Loch Tay, Scotland. The initial free-standing pile construction was rebuilt several times, resulting in an organic mound. The latest remaining consolidation phase incorporated large boulders which sealed the organic material underneath and preserved waterlogged remains of the plants utilised by earlier inhabitants. The base-rich soil of the local environment around the dwelling supported a mixed oak woodland with alder carr in the wetter areas and fringing the loch. Parts of this were cleared for agriculture by the earliest settlers, and woodland trees were utilised to build the dwelling, most especially alder, but also frequently oak, hazel and birch, with others occasionally at low levels. Cereal crops grown included Hordeum vulgare, Triticum dicoccum and T. spelta. Spelt wheat implies trade links with the south of the country or abroad. Linum usitatissiumum was cultivated on a small scale, possibly together with Papaver somniferum, another species which has implications for trade. The abundance of crop contaminant weed species emphasises the soil fertility, and suggests that cereal crops were neither weeded nor hand-picked on the ear. Seeds
archaeobotanical_investigation prehistoric lake dwell loch scottish_highlands late_bronze early_iron_age date lake dwell loch scotland initial free_standing construction rebuild several time result organic mound late remain consolidation phase incorporate large seal organic_material preserve waterlogged remain plant utilised early inhabitant base rich soil local_environment around dwell support mixed oak woodland area fringe loch parts clear agriculture early settler woodland tree utilised build dwelling especially also frequently oak others occasionally low_level cereal crop grown include wheat implies trade link south country abroad cultivate small_scale possibly together another specie implication trade abundance crop contaminant weed specie emphasise soil fertility suggest cereal crop neither weed hand ear