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 a platform visible in the drain face 0.3m below the bog surface (Whitaker 2014).

The site was excavated in 2014 (licence 14E0260). It was dated to 388-207 BC (UBA 26561).
A layer of brushwood and heavy roundwood formed the uppermost surface of the site. It was composed of mainly NNE-SSW oriented elements that were contained within an area measuring 4m x 4m. The elements were in a moderate condition. A layer of peat separated the upper and second layers of wood.
The second wood layer was composed of mainly NE-SW oriented brushwood, roundwood and two timber fragments contained within an area measuring 0.95-2.42m in width and a maximum of 8.4m in length. Many elements were irregularly shaped and branch like. Some possible coppiced heels were noted and sampled for further analysis. Several worked ends were noted.
The third wood layer was composed of light and heavy brushwood that had been placed over and between the heavier roundwood basal elements of the site. The layer measured 7.8x2.2m, and was one to two elements deep. Several pieces had toolmarks and worked ends, while others showed signs of having been roughly torn branches.
The basal layer of wood was composed of a densely packed roundwoods oriented mainly NE-SW with some brushwood packing and occasional split timber fragments. The wood was well preserved with bark present on several elements. It was contained within an area measuring 2.2-7.3m in size and was a maximum of 0.3m deep. A single peg was found.
Hazel was the dominant taxa from the brushwood and roundwood wooden elements, while alder was selected for the pegs (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 Unpublished report submitted to DOEHLG & BnM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 Unpublished report prepared by ADS for Bord na Móna.