Crannoge — Lough Melvin

The record identifies Crannoge — Lough Melvin as Crannog. It does not safely name every person, family or worker who used it, or fix all phases to exact years.

The recorded type points to a home or defended living place built on a natural or made island in a lake. That explains the likely everyday purpose without claiming people, tools or customs that the exact record does not prove.

The saved source says: Marked as a small island described as a 'Crannoge' in italic lettering on the 1907 ed. of the OS 6-inch map and located about 40m from the S shore of Lough Melvin towards its W extremity in Ballymore townland. A circular mound of gravel and stone (diam. c. 15m) is 0.8-1.2m below the present water level, but with no visible evidence of artificial construction. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 September 2008

The saved record does not establish one certain ending. A change in farming, water level, trade, fuel, ownership, route or settlement pattern may have ended the use, but no single cause is claimed without evidence.

Crannoge — Lough Melvin fixes a real piece of work or daily life to an exact place. Even where names are lost, its remains show how people obtained food and materials, organised land, made homes or adapted to the local ground.