Road - class 3 togher

The National Monuments Service's description

This site is located in the industrial peatlands of Clooneeny Bog. It was first recorded in the 2013 Reassessment Peatland Survey as brushwood and roundwood elements supported by a bed of twig material. It was visible in a drain face, 0.39m below the field surface (Whitaker 2014). On excavation in 2014 (licence 14E0257) the site was interpreted as the remains of a short togher or possible platform. A fragment of alder was used for AMS dating and returned a result of cal. 1208-946 BC (UBA 26558).

A single cutting was opened, measuring 5x3.5m. The exposed site was a maximum of 1.84m in length and 1.35m in width. It was composed of closely placed, N-S orientated roundwood elements that were laid a maximum of two layers deep. Three roundwoods were identified as alder and cherry, and one brushwood as oak. A few worked ends were noted. Some of the elements were visible in section in the opposing drain face, but no further sightings were located. The site was underlain and overlain by poorly humified peat.

Compiled by: Tim Coughlan/Jane Whitaker/Femke Vleeshouwer

Date of upload: 25/02/2020

References

Coughlan, T. and Whitaker, J. 2017 Final excavation report for Clooneeny Bog, Co. Longford, Bord na Móna Peatland Archaeological Services 2014-2017. IAC Ltd on behalf of Bord na Móna.

Whitaker, J. 2014 Re‐assessment Peatland Survey 2013, Blackwater, Boora, Derrydreenagh, Mountdillon Group of Bogs, County Offaly, Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon. Unpublished report prepared by ADS for Bord na Móna.