Site Report

WoSASPIN 7863
NS47SE 56 4554 7288.

The existence of a well-preserved oval shaped crannog, approximately 30m by 40m was confirmed. The site was planned photogrametrically from vertical photographs kindly provided by 819 Naval Air Squadron, HMS Gannet. Ground checking of the plan revealed several examples of jointing in the timber sub-structure and the broken topstone of a rotary quern. Seventeen timber samples were removed for dendrochronological analysis. Unfortunately, most proved to be alder and the oak samples failed to provide a date.
W S Hanson and J Macdonald 1985.

NS 4554 7288 This site was investigated in 1985 (Hanson and Macdonald 1985); it was assessed again in the summer of 1997 for an erosion survey. The exposed surface timbers are very badly damaged by both insect attack and tidal erosion. The site, the surrounding sandbanks and present HWM were contour surveyed. There was no evidence of a causeway connecting the site to the shoreline although this may be buried by the sediments which have accumulated to the S.
Sponsors: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Wingate Foundation.
A G C Hale 1997

Two radiocarbon dates are available from Erskine Bridge crannog, on the Clyde (Hanson, pers comm). Two oak piles were sampled, along with other timbers, during a survey of the crannog (Hanson et al, forthcoming). The results from this crannog were as follows:
Site Name - Erskine Bridge
Context Dated - Pile
Lab No - gu-2328
C14 Date - 1950+/-50BP
Calibrated Dates - AD10-AD120 (1 sigma), BC45 - AD200 (2 sigma)

Site Name - Erskine Bridge
Context Dated - Pile
Lab No - gu-2383
C14 Date - 2170+/-60BP
Calibrated Dates BC350-BC135 (1 sigman), BC400-BC65 (2 sigma)

The radiocarbon dates from Erskine Bridge hint at abandonment for varying periods of time followed by refurbishment and reoccupation.
Crone, A.B., 'Crannogs and Chronologies', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 123 (1993)

Scheduled on the 5th of October 2011 as 'Mar Hall, crannog 460m NE of', comprising the remains of a marine crannog occupying the highest point on a sandbank in the River Clyde, approximately 460m NE of Mar Hall Hotel. Visible at low tide, the monument appears as a seaweed-covered scatter of stones and well-preserved structural timbers. The area scheduled is roughly rectangular on plan, with maximum dimensions of 50m NE-SW by 34m transversely, to include the remains described and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment may survive.
Information from Historic Scotland scheduling document
Entered WoSAS (MO'H), 17/10/11

NS 45480 72900
NGR of crannog amended to lie within new Scheduled area following triangulation using publicly available aerial photographs.

A SCAPE ShoreUPDATE survey of 14 September 2013 reports the site as an oval spread of angular boulder sized stone much obscured by seaweed located at the low water mark. Frequent large fragments of timber posts scattered along the northern edge of the site. No timber is visible on the south side. This may be because it has not survived due to the south side of the site drying out at every low tide. The north edge is on the low water line and so would only be fully exposed at spring tides. Information from SCAPE.
Entered WoSAS (HMcB) 10/01/2014