Worked timbers and stones on a Clyde sandbank preserve one of Scotland’s rare marine crannogs.
Quick facts
- Date
- Probably later prehistoric or early historic; precise date unresolved
- Architect / designer
- Builders unknown
- Type
- Marine crannog of timber and stone
- Designation
- Scheduled monument (SM12891)
- OS grid reference
- NS 45473 72909
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The remains spread across an intertidal sandbank as rounded boulders and numerous structural timbers. Some wood lies partly buried in mud and sand, retaining joints and working that may explain how a platform once stood above the estuary.
Its story
The crannog belongs to a small Clyde group whose roles may have included settlement, landing or river-crossing support. Archaeologists investigated part of the site in 1985 and took timber samples, while extensive buried material remained protected.
Why it is included
Scheduling recognises a rare marine crannog with exceptional waterlogged preservation and strong potential to illuminate prehistoric construction and movement along the Clyde.
What to notice
- Stone scatter emerging at low tide.
- Large worked timbers among mud and sand.
- The site’s alignment with the nearby shore and river channel.
Reading the surroundings
Do not attempt to walk onto the intertidal site. Mud, tides and currents are hazardous, and the timbers are legally protected. Observe only from a safe lawful shore location without touching or removing material.
Timeline
- 1000 BC–AD 1000 Many Scottish crannogs were created within this broad period, though this site is not closely dated.
- 1985 Archaeological work examined part of the structure and sampled timbers.
- 2011 Scheduling protected the crannog and its surrounding deposits.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Its construction date, duration of use and precise function remain unresolved; tidal visibility must never be mistaken for safe access.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Mar Hall Crannog, SM12891 — Current designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: SM12891 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
Location
OS grid reference NS 45473 72909 · Location confidence: High: the current national designation supplies an exact mapped National Grid Reference; public text separately states access and current-use uncertainty. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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