Road - class 3 togher

The National Monuments Service's description

This site is located in the industrial peatlands of Lough Bannow Bog. It was recorded in the 2013 Re-assessment Peatland Survey as a togher exposed in the drain face. The roundwoods were cut by the drain, but where they ran under the peat, they survived in good condition, with bark remaining. While the elements predominately ran parallel, the western one ran over the central one at one point (Whitaker 2014).

A single cutting was opened and excavated under licence 15E0205. The site was dated cal. 2870-2498 BC (UBA 26639). It was situated in Sphagnum peat with Phragmites inclusions. The excavated site consisted of three NW–SE orientated heavy hazel roundwood elements (L1.75-3.55m, Diam. 0.1-0.14m) with three associated light hazel and blackthorn brushwoods (L0.71-1.65m, Diam. 0.02-0.03m). The elements were closely placed, side-by-side, creating a total width ranging from 0.46–1.25m. A toolmarked end was noted.
The roundwoods were truncated by the drain, but there was no evidence for the site in the opposing drain face. The excavated elements either represent the remains of a small platform or short length of togher.

Compiled by: Jane Whitaker/Femke Vleeshouwer

Date of upload: 28/02/2020

References

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 Unpublished report prepared by ADS for Bord na Móna.

Whitaker, J. 2017 Final Excavation Report, Lough Bannow Bog, Co. Longford (15E0205–15E0213). Unpublished report prepared by IAC Ltd submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.