Road - road/trackway

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on flat bogland. Archaeologically excavated over two seasons this site consisted of a causeway (L 555m; Wth 0.35m) orientated E-W and constructed before 1440 BC +/-9 yrs. The causeway revealed three phases of construction with a variation in building techniques over the length of the road. Originally the site consisted of two parallel rows of stakes (L 456-488m), up to 1,400 in number, which acted as marker posts for the causeway (Wth 1.4m). This phase was radiocarbon dated to between 1745 and 1405 BC. Phase two was represented by the construction of a paved flagstone surface on top of the well-worn compressed peat and was radiocarbon dated to 1605-1285 BC. In places there was a need for a brushwood and sand foundation for the causeway. At both ends of the trackway a different construction method was used. At the W end the road consisted of a deep deposit of longitudinal roundwood, occasional planks and brushwood. A later phase of intermittent repairs to the stone causeway with oak planks being laid over transverse roundwood was dated to before 1440 BC +/-9yrs (Coughlan and Stevens 1999, Killoran 18, 56-60).

The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008