Road - class 1 togher

The National Monuments Service's description

This togher (L 20m min.; Wth 3.28m; D 0.16m), orientated NW‑SE, was composed of transversely laid roundwood (diam. 0.06‑0.2m; L 0.06‑1.65m), brushwood (diam. 0.03‑0.055m; L 0.05‑0.7m) and split timbers with occasional irregularly laid twigs and bark fragments. The transverse elements occurred in three main concentrations of material, which were regularly and closely laid. Between these areas were sparse and irregularly laid fragmentary brushwood and roundwood. Four small split timbers (L 0.94m max.) were also present. The togher was delineated on each side by a line of intermittent pegs (diam. 0.024‑0.04m; L 0.38m), 70 in total, which were set at angles of 70‑90º. On average the pegs were set 0.2m apart but gaps of up to 4.3m were present. The transverse elements were in an extremely poor condition and included radial and half‑splits, and several irregularly converted pieces of wood. In contrast the pegs were well preserved and the woodworking was characterised by small slightly concave facets likely to have been cut with bronze axes. Wood species used included hazel, ash, birch and alder. The SE extent of the togher abutted another one (LF004‑003‑‑‑‑), while its NW end appeared to abut the central portion of another togher (LF004‑014‑‑‑‑) that was almost directly opposite another one (LF004‑019‑‑‑‑). A structure (LF004‑006‑‑‑‑) lay 0.1m above the central portion, another structure (LF004‑010‑‑‑‑) lay 0.49m above the NW part, and a further togher (LF004‑013‑‑‑‑) lay 0.1m to the N of the NE edge. Radiocarbon dating revealed date ranges of 760‑640 cal BC and 560‑390 cal BC (Beta‑217356) (Moore and O’Connor 2009a, 21, EDC 10).

Compiled by: Mary Tunney based on data kindly supplied by Caitríona Moore.

Date of upload: 26 August 2011