We wish all a wonderful New Year!

The "Name" chapter of the Historic Environment Scotland report is "in review" and we hope to compile the other sections for the experts early this new year.

Thanks for your continued support!

Apologies for missing the November update.   Much going on.  All involved are volunteers with many other parallel activities.  We are currently editing drafts and hoping for publication early next year.

We are also independently working in the Muniments Project with Preston McFarland and Peter McFarlin ... for its own merits and in hopes we might find more Elanvow information hidden there.  Even though the island doesn't seem to appear in the Index created earlier, we already see a genealogy in Walter's hand that reads "Island-vow" ... so there may be other yet undetected references.

We did have very nice support from the academic community at the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh on the 1395 charter.  Thanks to all those who helped!  We are also currently engaged with Morag Cross on additional transcription.

Thanks for your patience and on-going support.

After capturing what we could find on references for Eilean a' Bhogha and Eilean a' Bhùth, we returned to research the popular, but (we think) least credible Eilean a' bho or Island of the Cow.  We will publish articles on this shortly, with a more comprehensive treatment in the upcoming HES report, but we welcome any information of pre-1962 sources for that name.

Most of the internet sources that mention "Island of the Cow" seem to reference (directly or indirectly) either Wikipedia or other sites who reference Calder and Lindsay's "The Islands of Loch Lomond".  The Wikipedia content was entered by MacRusGail in 2008 and we have been trying to locate the author with no success.  We had a nice conversation with Lynn Lindsay and she provided sources for her 1983 dissertation that preceded the book (published with her father Sinclair).  From that, the earliest written reference we have found so far that suggests Eilean a' bho is in I.M.M. McPhail's "A Short History of Dumbarton" (1962).  There it speculates that the current name was "probably derived from Eilean A' Bho (the island of the cow)" without providing any source or reference.   So far, the Calder-Lindsay book was the earliest to suggest that the name might be Island of the Cow based on Macfarlanes' skill for rustling, but after reviewing the current research, Ms. Lindsay wrote "the cattle rustling derivation of the name certainly doesn’t stand anymore".

We also still have had two Gaelic scholars tell us that "Eilean a' bho" is grammatically incorrect.  Others still say it is a possibility.

The current internet references are clearly borrowing from other internet sources in that their wording is extremely similar.  From our recent survey, most are not aware of other forms or research, but one was aware of the other forms and simply "liked" the Island of the Cow story better.  (Everything on the internet is true, after all. :-))

Ms. Lindsay's book does also include some alternate names that are interesting and unique.  From this, we found a reference that clearly refers to the island as "Elengavahana" in 1845 in describing the boundaries of Dumbartonshire county. 

We also came across Sir Walter Scott's reference to the island as "Inch Tavoe" in a note to his historical novel "The Monastery" (1820).

Well ... at least Eilean a' Bhogha, Eilean a' Bho, and Inch Tavoe rhyme!

With busy schedules and many competing projects, we are still pressing for completion of the current report and submission of a new SMC in early 2018.   Thanks for all the contributions to research and for your on-going support.

Much of the month has been spent recovering from Hurricane Harvey and that process is still on-going.  We are still hoping for updates from the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh, but our paid researcher was not able to take on translation of the 1395 charter given his current backlog of work.  We're still looking and have a close starting point based on the updated transcription and a translation by Simon Taylor of a related charter.

Although the 1395 charter seems to be the oldest in the Hill Collection, Muniments 73 does mention a 13th century charter and we will look further into that for details.  

Thanks for your continued support!

Peter McFarlin and Preston McFarland kindly provided images of the 1395 charter from Duncan, Earl of Lennox, to Duncan Macpharlane that they had taken at Dunbarton from the Hill Collection. (Thank you!)  This is part of the important work they are proposing to record, preserve and publish the information there.

They also granted us permission to involve some researchers in analysis of the charter.  Specifically, we wanted to confirm the spelling of "Elanvow" and of the other island place names in the charter.  The 1395 charter is the oldest extant written reference to the island that we know of.

We are working with experts at the University of Edinburgh as well as at the University of Glasgow and with correspondence from experts as far away as Tunisia!  There will be more to follow on this with specifics per their permission.  One researcher applied SLIC superpixels to images of the charter to see if we could better identify and confirm the text there.  Several researchers and professors are reviewing the paleography of the charter to confirm spellings and to provide an updated transcription ... based on expert analysis.  We had mapped Cartalarium Comitatus de Levanax (p 64) ... word-by-word to the charter and have found some gaps, transpositions, and untranslated words.  The spelling of some of the previously translated words is also questionable.   For example, the transcriptions of the 1395 charter typically transcribe "Elandowglas" as the third island mentioned.  We transcribed that as "Elanin[ver]dowglas" where the "in" is an abbreviation of "inver" (inbhir) and was missed earlier.  This is our Inveruglas or inbhir dubh glas. Two independent experts have since confirmed that.  The use of abbreviations is common throughout the charter.  

We have also commissioned a researcher to translate the Latin for this charter to English based on an updated transcription and we plan to contribute this back to the work to be published by Preston and Peter.

We believe we have confirmed the spelling "Elanvow", but will await the expert reports to definitively confirm that ... or not.

Thanks for your continued support!

We were approached by The Scotsman for an article on the work at Elanvow while I was away on a long Fourth Of July weekend.  Alison Campsie arranged an interview with Fiona first on Wednesday (Thanks!) and I had a nice conversation with Alison on Thursday morning.  I wasn't expecting to see anything until Sunday (tomorrow), but the electronic version of the article was released on Thursday afternoon.
I had tried to emphasize the work with the local team Fiona, David, Tom, Myles, Liam, Jake, etc. and of Katherine's central role in making all this happen.   I also mentioned the other good work going on by others ... such as the recent almshouse dig on the mainland opposite Elanvow.  Alison did ask some very good questions and, I think, sensed the "personal" importance of this work, so the article ultimately went in that direction.  We are grateful to The Scotsman for the coverage and exposure.  (Coincidentally, our April meeting was in the Lord Lyon's Chambers only 20 some yards away from The Scotsman's old headquarters... now a hotel.)

As part of the work on the HES report, we are trying to tighten up our references.  We find that many of the references commonly cited are based on earlier original references ... and sometimes are misquoted. Thanks to the many of you who we have consulted for all the information you have provided!  Note that we are trying to include references and links to searchable copies of the reference wherever possible.  The "References, Maps & Myths" tab is the index to most of the research.  The bulk of the research links are in the "What's In A Name?" tab ...where we research the historical names for the island.  If you are aware of any 17th century or earlier references to the island, check our What's In a Name? tab, and please let us know of these.

Of particular interest are references for (i) the content of the 1225 Charter, (ii) images of the 1354 or 1395 charters or any that mention the island, (iii) any 17th century or earlier mention of the island's name (See What's In a Name?), (iv) any good references on the basis for the use of the name "Island of the Shop/Booth" and when that use started.  Of course, we will compile all relevant references over time and all submissions are welcome.

The team is regrouping from various corners of the world to focus on completing the HES report for the second Scheduled Monument Consent.  As noted, we have a very well done estimate and plan for repairs/stabilization from Simpson and Brown through Tom and Addyman Archaeology.  The proposed work was summarized in prior posts and we plan to submit a Scheduled Monument Consent application for this work as soon as possible after completing the second report.   This is more work than most people might imagine and we thank the team for all their contributions.

As a footnote, we had told the Scotsman that we wanted to stay out of any discussions/disputes on ownership or clan society tensions.  In fact, we have offered return of donations in the past if we sensed that a donor may be putting conditions on the donation ... such as excluding others from participating ... that were not consistent with our goals.   Our blog history still retains some of the past discussion on that topic. We want all to be able to participate in the efforts to preserve Elanvow and to focus on that preservation work for the benefit of all.

Thank you for your continued support!

With the team scattered across the world, we are focused on the third week in July for the next convergence.   We are "sharpening the pencil" on research and references both for educational signage and for the HES report.  This effort reminds us of all the countless hours of research that have been done by others ... and we are very grateful.  it also makes us mindful that it is important to re-check references and to be as accurate and objective as we can.

The Edinburgh gathering also reminded me what an exceptional group of experts we have on the team ... Fiona Baker, David Connolly, and Tom Addyman forming the core.  Simpson and Brown have given us detailed instructions for preservation of the tower and estimates for the work.   Although the sum is a bit staggering, the experts feel the work to date should help in getting funding for the bulk of the work.   We also may be able to stage the work, but anything beyond two stages would likely net increase the costs.  The recommendations call for clearing and leveling the dirt above the vault, stabilizing the vault, capping the ground above with clay for water protection and laying sod.  This would provide a stable surface for scaffolding to allow the tower walls to also be capped with clay and sod ... and for the most unstable, potentially dangerous, portions of the walls to be stabilized.  All that done, re-pointing of the masonry would stabilize and preserve the tower for another few hundred years hopefully. 

As we finish the HES report and submit the third Schedule Monument Consent,  we will also start laying out strategies for fund raising.   Although unlikely to fund the project, we do still have plans for converting the seasoned elm (taken from the cellar entrance in 2013) into sgian dubh, quaichs, serving boards and the like.   We will also likely be selling "bags of mortar" and the like as the consolidation work begins.  We are still trying to find a way to include the names of donors on the signage on the island and plan to work with LLTTNP to produce the signage.

Thanks to all for your patience and support. 

We had great meeting in Edinburgh on April 18 with Fiona Baker, Tom Addyman, and David Connolly.   The team exchanged and updated information on Elanvow and laid out the remaining work to complete the requisite report for HES SMC 2 report.

April 19 and 20 were set aside for visits to the island.  I was fortunate to visit the dig at the presumed site of the seventeenth century almshouse built by John 15th chief and son of Elanvow's Andrew.  It was a pleasure to meet Heather James and her team and see the last stages of the dig as it was back-filled and covered.

The team is scheduled to meet in Edinburgh on April 18 to consolidate work for the current Scheduled Monument Consent and to chart the completion of that work.  In addition, we will prioritize recommendations for on-going preservation work.

We will plan a visit to the island on the 19th and/or 20th ... with no particular goals, but perhaps to resolve any questions that arise on the 18th.

We have had a great interaction with Greig Morris of Aye in the Sky on the Eilean a Vow quadcopter modeling.   Since we had a little momentum and the visibility seems right, we asked John Duncan for permission to flyover Inveruglas and he has agreed.  Greg will watch for the right lighting and weather conditions and, hopefully, will capture some great photos in the next week or two.  Even though our charter is for Eilean a Vow, this seemed like an opportunity for Macfarlanes that we shouldn't miss.  Of course, all the modeling work and travel is covered by The Board and no donated funds are used.

As mentioned,  the preservation work recommended by the experts is extensive and there will be plenty of opportunity for good use of donations in future.

Thanks for your on-going support!

Based on our research on the etymology of Elanvow / Eilean a Vow, we have officially changed our name!  We have registered to do business as The Elanvow Preservation Fund even though our legal name, Ellan Vhow Preservation Fund, remains.  EIN 46-0871085

"Elanvow" is the name as written in the 13th and 14th century charters.

Of the many forms of the name over the years,  Ellan Vhow, now seems the least correct, if not just incorrect.  In fact, our Scottish Gaelic translator said that spelling made her 'blood curdle". :-)   As noted earlier, we originally chose that spelling based on the RCAHMS spelling and to chose a relatively unique spelling.  We want to avoid propagation of the Ellan Vhow form and will stop using that.   We will even try to remove/correct past references using the Ellan Vhow form (... not in the Hatshepsut sense ... we will keep reference to the former name ... but we do not want our prior use of that form to promote it's use.)

Follow "What's In A Name?" for on-going research on the island's name.  We feel Eilean a Vow (or any Vow form) and Elanvow have solid basis as legitimate forms. 

Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba has agreed that it is appropriate to list both "Eilean a' Bhogha" and "Eilean a' Bhùth" as the most likely Gaelic forms.  Eilean a' Bhùth was documented after the island was used as store of sorts in the very late 17th century, but we still feel this is a later use.  The island was also clearly call Eilean Ure (The New Island) at one point, but no one claims that to be a potential Gaelic translation of Elanvow.)  We will post the expert Scottish Gaelic pronunciations of each on the Home page and listeners can decide which was more likely written as "Elanvow" in the charters.

Thanks for your on-going support!