Road - unclassified togher

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, located on the margins of a low-lying expanse of boggy ground, which extends to W. The terrain to E is dotted with low drumlins.
This possible togher was discovered during archaeological testing (Licence no. 16E0186) carried out in advance of a proposed extension of a commercial quarry (MacHugh 2016). The test trenches (each Wth 2.3m) were laid out in parallel rows, spaced 10m apart. A layer of timbers was uncovered lying horizontally on the natural peat substrate at a depth of c. 0.35m below ground surface in three parallel E−W test trenches. Large timbers (L 0.8-1.25m; Wth 0.15-0.25m) were interspersed with smaller pieces (L 0.2-0.3m; Wth 0.1m), and small twigs and other fragments of vegetation also occurred. There was no obvious structural definition to the timbers and no tool marks were noted. The timbers may be the remains of a togher (Wth c. 7m). It was traced for a distance of at least 41m NW−SE. It may have crossed the margins of a former lake or marshy area that formed at the base of this shallow valley surrounded by glacial drumlins. A burnt mound (MA103-080----) was exposed in a parallel test trench a few meters to S, and it is possible that the togher leads to the fulacht fia. (MacHugh 2016)

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 9 March 2021

References

McHugh, T. 2016 2016:192 - Corraun, Mayo. Licence Number: 16E0186. In excavations.ie: database of Irish excavation reports, https://excavations.ie/report/2016/Mayo/0025212/

McHugh, T. 2016 Archaeological testing report of Corraun, Co. Mayo. Fadó Archaeology. Licence Number: 16E0186. Planning Number: 1655. Unpublished report submitted to NMS, April 2016