Excavations at Dorman’s Island crannog, Whitefield Loch, SW Scotland

AOC Archaeology have been excavating at the crannog known as Dorman’s Island in Whitefield Loch, near Glenluce in Dumfries and Galloway. The project is part of the Scottish Wetland Archaeology Programme (SWAP), which since 2006 has been engaged in a national programme of research survey and excavation of wetland, peatland and submerged archaeological sites across the country.

Excavation at Dorman’s Island took place in December 2008, on the above-water areas of the site. A single trench was excavated into the waterlogged organic layers on top of the crannog mound, finally reaching a level almost 0.8m below the water table where flooding prevented any further work. This was deep enough however to reach in-situ occupation layers, and several structural features of the crannog superstructure were uncovered, including stakes, piles and horizontal oak flooring timbers. A line of carefully placed stones delimited a deep clay surface, possibly a hearth base or other working surface from the rest of the crannog. From the size of the stakes excavated it seems probable that the trench was located entirely within a building on top of the crannog. A range of artefacts were recovered from the excavation, including fragments of a blue/yellow glass bracelet, datable to the Roman Iron Age, as well as rubber stones, numerous chipped flints and pot-boiler stones.

AOC Project Supervisor: Dr Graeme Cavers
Client: Historic Scotland