Timothy Pont and the Freshwater Loch Settlements of Late Medieval and Early Modern Mainland Scotland

Abstract

Archaeologists have long been fascinated by the artificial islands, often known as crannogs, in Scotland's lochs. The tendency has been to regard them as a discrete phenomenon and to focus on their role as prehistoric and early historic settlements. However, chorographic material, much of it closely linked to Timothy Pont's survey of Scotland, shows they were still in relatively widespread use, and performing a variety of functions, during the late 16th century. It also raises questions – certainly for the late medieval and early modern periods – about whether they should be seen as part of a broader phenomenon of loch settlements on artificial, modified and natural islands.