Dive deep into the past – Loch Achilty Crannog Project

Mar 26, 2025

In September 2025 the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) are partnering with the North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NoSAS) to investigate a medieval crannog (lake dwelling) in Loch Achilty, Strathpeffer. During a week in September they will be documenting and excavating a section of the crannog to better understand its occupation and use.

The recorded crannog at Loch Achilty has been dived on three occasions, including by NAS members. A tape and offset survey of the above water and underwater structure was completed and a plan drawn. Two timber samples were obtained which were submitted for carbon dating. These have yielded dates of c.1060AD and 1359AD, suggesting it is of medieval construction.

Crannogs from the medieval period are very rare and very few of them have been studied. There is minimal knowledge of the construction techniques used in the Highland area, or of the function to which crannogs were put. NOSAS believe that Achilty crannog would be a good subject for more detailed study, possibly a partial excavation with a view to determining the method of construction. This may even reveal clues as to its purpose. Achilty Crannog provides an interesting comparison with Loch Kinellan crannog, only a few kilometres away. Kinellan is also thought to be medieval, from pottery excavated in antiquarian times, but its construction is completely different, entirely formed from timber, brushwood and clay with almost no stone.

In the week of the 20th-26th September NAS staff and members will be assisting members of NOSAS recording the underwater structure of the crannog. This will involve removal of stones, excavation of organic material (using a waterdredge) and recording materials exposed. Samples for dating by dendrochronology or radiocarbon will be left with NOSAS for post-excavation analysis.

SCUBA diving project participants will also assist in ground truthing two other possible crannogs in the Loch.