Platform - peatland

The National Monuments Service's description

This site was located in the industrial peatlands of Cloonshannagh Bog. It was first recorded in the 2013 Reassessment Peatland Survey as exposed in the drain face, 0.3m below the field surface. It was composed of four elements that were sparsely laid in two layers (Whitaker 2014).

The site was excavated in 2014 (licence 14E0266). It was dated to cal. 756–409 BC (UBA 26570). The excavated remains consisted of scattered brushwood elements that were randomly set with no clear pattern. The elements were of moderate to poor preservation. Two timbers orientated NW-SE southeast in the N of the cutting may be associated with another site. The site may represent a scatter of wood discarded from another site nearby. The majority of the roundwood/brushwood and worked ends were hazel followed by one alder brushwood and one alder roundwood. One of the hazel brushwood was forked. Five of the elements had the remains of metal tool facets cut at shallow angles (Coughlan and Whitaker 2019).

Compiled by: Femke Vleeshouwer/Jane Whitaker/Tim Coughlan

Date of upload: 16 April 2020

References

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 Unpublished report submitted to DOEHLG & BnM

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 Unpublished report prepared by ADS for Bord na Móna.