Platform - peatland

The National Monuments Service's description

This site is located in the industrial peatlands of Cloonshannagh Bog. It was first recorded in the 2013 Peatland Reassessment Survey as a togher, composed entirely of brushwood elements. It was visible in two sightings on the surface of one field with a gap of c. 18m between them (Whitaker 2014).

The site was excavated in 2014, under licence 14E0267, and dated to cal. AD 888-1013. It was a complex structure, most likely a platform, constructed of many different depositions of brushwood and small roundwood material. Hazel was the dominant species on this site followed by birch, ash and alder. Several toolmarked ends were noted.
The primary layer of the sub-structural deposits consisted of very densely laid brushwood. These had been laid both E-W and N-S. This densely pack brushwood layer was overlain by roughly transversely laid roundwoods and heavy brushwoods, that possibly represent the main structural component. These had been laid in two layers, and were densely packed with a NW-SE orientation. A series of longitudinally (N-S) roundwoods and large brushwoods were evident laid centrally and along the W limits of the transversely laid layer. A layer of peat was identified overlying the lower elements of the structure outlined above.
The upper elements of the overall structure were identified above the peat layer. Many of them represented small localised deposits of wood/brushwood. The main structure was formed by roundwoods and heavy brushwoods, many of which had been damaged by milling on their upper surfaces. They were orientated NE-SW and had a moderate density. Smaller deposits consisted of patches dense brushwood, and may relate to a finer walking surface on the top of the structure. They were orientated both N-S and E-W. The final element of the structure consisted of a series of 28 vertical pegs (Coughlan and Whitaker 2019).

Compiled by: Femke Vleeshouwer/Jane Whitaker/Tim Coughlan

Date of upload: 17 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 Unpublished report submitted to DOEHLG & BnM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 Unpublished report prepared by ADS for Bord na Móna.