Road - class 1 togher

The National Monuments Service's description

This site is located in the industrial peatlands of Kinnegad Bog. It was first recorded in the 2013 Peatland Survey as a togher situated in raised bog peats, extending for 308m and orientated ENE-WSW. The monument was visible on the field surface 2m east of the drain edge and in multiple drain faces (Bermingham 2014). An excavation was carried out in 2015 (licence 15E0164), during which three cuttings were opened. The site was dated cal. 2848-2466 BC (UBA 26634). The togher was in Sphagnum peat of varying levels of decomposition and humification.

The first and westernmost cutting (ME-MOY002r, Photo 1) measured 7x2m in size. The togher measured 0.19-1.32m in width and was composed of longitudinal alder and birch roundwoods (Diam. 0.07-0.09m, L0.7-4.87), supported by short lengths of transverse roundwood and brushwood (Diam. 0.03-0.08m, L0.74-1.2m). The wood was in poor condition. Two pegs were recorded. Six toolmarked ends were noted, a combination of chisel and wedge-shaped points with concave facets.

In the second cutting (ME-MOY002k, Photo 2) of the same dimensions, the site measured 0.15-0.83m in width. It was composed of four longitudinal alder elements (Diam. 0.08-0.15m, max L3.9m), placed two wide, with a single transverse birch timber support (0.72x0.07x0.03m). The structure was secured with pegs. Only one element had a a discernible worked end, a blunt pencil-point with 12 facets.

In the third cutting (ME-MOY002b, Photo 3), the site was composed of two pairs of longitudinally-laid parallel alder roundwoods (Diam. 0.08-0.12m, L3.03-4.45m), supported at their ends by a transversely laid timber (0.67x0.09x0.03m), and secured in place with a split alder timber peg.

The togher was quite narrow and would have supported people only single file. It probably served to connect the eastern dryland with the ridge or dryland-island located within Kinnegad (Rossan) Bog.

Compiled by: Jane Whitaker/Femke Vleeshouwer

Date of upload: 26/02/2020

References

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 Unpublished report prepared by IAC Ltd submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin.

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 Unpublished Archaeological Survey report submitted to DOEHLG