An ancient artificial island or dwelling built in lakes and marshes, particularly in Ireland and Scotland, used as a fortified settlement in prehistoric and medieval times.
From Irish 'cranóg,' derived from Old Irish 'cran' (meaning tree). These structures were literally built from timber on lake beds, representing ingenious ancient engineering in wet environments.
Archaeologists love crannogs because the waterlogged conditions preserve wood and artifacts perfectly—some 5,000-year-old wooden items from crannogs look almost brand new!
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