Road - class 2 togher

The National Monuments Service's description

This site was initially recorded in the 2008 Archaeological Survey of Ireland Peatland Survey as a platform (Rohan 2009). It was located c. 170-200m from the edge of a bay at the NW end of Cloonshannagh Bog and visible in a drain face, 0.09m below the field surface. During the 2013 Re-Assessment Survey carried out by ADS it became apparent that this site and another nearby platform also recorded in 2008 formed a linear togher, orientated NW-SE, which was then recorded as CLS180a-d (Whitaker 2014).

The togher was excavated in 2015 under licence 15E0203. The site was dated to cal. 2870-2495 BC. It was situated in Sphagnum pool peat. The excavated site was up to 3.5m in width, consisting of transverse roundwood and brushwood elements in very poor condition. It was supported by longitudinal roundwoods, interspersed with some lighter longitudinal brushwood and a loose scatter of brushwood. An organic layer consisting of twigs and woody detritus was found towards the E extent of the cutting. The trackway was secured by pegs. Some of them displayed toolmarked ends with concave facets (Coughlan & Whitaker 2019).

Compiled by: Ros O Maoldúin/Michael Moore, Edited by: Femke Vleeshouwer, 15 April 2020

Date of upload: 12th April, 2011

References

Rohan, N. 2009 Peatland survey 2007 and 2008, Blackwater, Derryfadda, Coolnagun, Moutdillon group of bogs: counties Offaly, Galway, Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon. Ireland. Archaeological Development Services. Unpublished report, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

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 Unpublished report prepared by ADS for Bord na Móna.

Coughlan, T & Whitaker, J 2019 Final excavation report Cloonshannagh Bog, Co Roscommon. Bord na Mona Peatland Archaeological Services 2014-2017. Unpublished report submitted to DOEHLG & BnM