Road - class 2 togher

The National Monuments Service's description

A peatland survey carried out in 2006 by Archaeological Development Services recorded a togher measuring in ‘width 1.4–3.4m, depth 0.08–0.4m, length 30m and was dated to 1690–1380BC’ (Whitaker 2006, 30). Described by Whitaker (2006, 30-1) as ‘This togher was visible in drain faces, located 30m apart, at the narrowest part of Ballybeg Bog. There was no evidence for the site in the intervening drain face. It was composed of densely laid longitudinal brushwood with a hurdle panel surface layer at the southwest end (TN-BLG009b). The togher was orientated northwest–southeast and was in a good state of preservation, except where it had been machine damaged in the drain faces. Four pieces of wood were identified, all of which were hazel.
TN-BLG009a, 219474, 152796, Width 1.4m, Depth 0.08m
This sighting was located in the drain face, 0.53m below the field surface at the southeastern end of the togher. It was composed of regularly laid longitudinal brushwood elements with two underlying transverse runners. The elements were in a moderate state of preservation and the longitudinal brushwood was orientated northwest–southeast. The structure had a high level of density, with 0 to 0.02m between elements. The average diameter of the brushwood measured 0.02m. The underlying peat was composed of moderately humified Sphagnum peat with moderate Eriophorum inclusions.
TN-BLG009b, 219469,152846, Width 2.5m, Depth 0.08m
This sighting was located in the drain face, 0.4m below the field surface, 30m to the northwest of TN-BLG006a. It was composed of a hurdle panel supported by a small number of transverse and longitudinal brushwood and roundwood elements. The wood was poorly preserved at the drain edge but was well preserved where enveloped by peat. The elements measured 0.01 to 0.08m in diameter. The underlying peat was composed of moderately humified Sphagnum peat with moderate Eriophorum inclusions’.

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 20 August 2012

References

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 Unpublished report, DOEHLG, National Monuments Service.