Road - class 1 togher

The National Monuments Service's description

A peatland survey carried out in 2006 by Archaeological Development Services recorded a togher measuring in ‘width 1.2-5.3m, depth 0.1- 0 6m, length 525m, and was dated after 986BC’ (Whitaker 2006, 90). Described by Whitaker (2006, 90) as ‘this substantial oak plank trackway was visible on the field surface and in the drain faces, at 30 sightings across the narrowest section of Longfordpass Bog. The site was located at the northern end of the bog, was orientated northwest-southeast and ran parallel to the modern road. The trackway was composed of transversely laid planks secured, in places, by pegs and longitudinal roundwood runners. Many sightings also had an underlying layer of sand and gravel which could also be found between and occasionally over the elements. The composition was consistent along the length of the trackway and the level of preservation varied depending on the site's location on the field surface or within the peat. The eastern extent of the trackway was composed of a thin layer of sans, gravel and stones recorded on the field surface. The site had been mostly milled out in this area, so that all that remained were the lower levels of the trackway. The transverse elements were orientated north-northeast/south southwest and the longitudinal runners, where present, were orientated west-northwest/east-southeast. Bog butter was recovered to the northeast of TI-LFPOO1z at a similar level in the bog. The proximity of the bog butter to the trackway and the fact that they were found at similar levels in the bog would suggest that they are broadly contemporary in date. TI LFPOOIa, 222652,161918, Width 3.5m, Depth 0.2m. This sighting was located at the southwestern end of the plank trackway and was exposed on the field surface and in the drain face. It was composed of a single transverse plank with a peg at both ends and a patch of overlying sandy gravel. The elements were in a moderate state of preservation but were dried out due to exposure in the drain face. The transverse was orientated north-northeast south- southwest and measured 1.18m in length, 0.12m in width and 0.08m in depth. The pegs had average dimensions that measured 0.2m in length and 0.04m in diameter. The peat was composed of moderately humified Sphagnum rich peat with frequent Eriophorum and moderate ericaceous remains’.

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 19 August 2012

References

Whitaker, J. 2007 Peatland Survey 2006 Littleton Group of Bogs, Counties Tipperary, Kilkenny and Laois. Unpublished report, DOEHLG, National Monuments Service.