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, 0.41m below the field surface and was visible in the opposing face. It was composed of a single layer of regularly laid brushwood elements that were in a moderate state of preservation (Whitaker 2014).

The site was excavated in 2015 (licence 15E0193). It was dated to cal. AD 71–222. Two separate structures were found. The one concerned here was located at the W extent and visible in the drain face. This was composed of eight, closely placed, ENE oriented light brushwood elements, with a single underlying WNW oriented brushwood and some associated brushwood to the north. They covered an area measuring 1.7m by 1.8m in size. The wood species was dominated by birch with alder, hazel, ash and willow also present. The elements were roughly shaped with several forked branches and torn worked ends noted. Several toolmarks were noted which were mainly flat facets (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 Unpublished report submitted to DOEHLG & BnM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 Unpublished report prepared by ADS for Bord na Móna.