Road - class 2 togher

The National Monuments Service's description

This site is located in the industrial peatlands of Kinnegad Bog. It was first recorded in two sightings during the 2013 Peatland Survey, where it was described as a roundwood and brushwood togher partially exposed on the field surface and in two drain faces. Longitudinal elements and a possible sub-structure were found. The upper elements were all aligned NE-SW (Bermingham 2014). An excavation was carried out in 2015 (licence: 15E0162). The site was dated to cal. 3636-3378 BC (UBA 26636).

A single cutting, measuring 6x2m, was opened. The site was in moderately humified Sphagnum peat with Eriophorum, sedge and leafy inclusions. It consisted of longitudinally laid, closely placed light birch and alder brushwood and heavy roundwood elements (Diam. 0.02-0.12m, L0.07-1.92m), forming a walking surface 0.84-1.2m in width. In some areas, they were placed two to three layers deep. The wood was in fairly poor condition. Some elements were gnarled or knotty with forked branch pieces evident. A single short peg was located to the E, and had a degraded toolmarked end. Four other elements with toolmarks were noted, showing concave facets with shallow cutting angles.

Compiled by: Jane Whitaker/Femke Vleeshouwer

Date of upload: 26/02/2020

References

Bermingham, N. 2014 Archaeological Survey of Ireland Peatland Survey 2013: Kinnegad (Rossan) Bog, Co Meath. Unpublished Archaeological Survey report submitted to DOEHLG

Whitaker, J. 2017 Final Excavation Report, Kinnegad Bog, Co. Meath (15E0160–15E0177). Unpublished report prepared by IAC Ltd submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.