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 1.4–1.8m, Depth 0.07–0.11m, Length 60m’ (Whitaker 2006, 35). Described by Whitaker (2006, 35-6) as this ‘This togher was visible across the surface of four fields. It was composed of longitudinal and transverse roundwood and brushwood elements. The togher was located on the northern side of Ballybeg Bog, where the bog is at its narrowest, and in proximity to the dryland. It was orientated northeast–southwest and little remained of the site due to prolonged machine damage.
TN-BLG016a, Width 1.6m, Depth 0.11m
This sighting was located on the field surface and represents the southernmost sighting of the togher. It was composed of a single transverse roundwood that was poorly preserved and was orientated northwest–southeast. It measured 1.6m in length and 0.11m in diameter. The underlying peat was composed of well-humified Sphagnum peat with moderate Calluna inclusions.
TN-BLG0016b, Width 4.4m, Depth 0.08m
This sighting was located on the field surface, 15m northeast of TN-BLG016a and 6m southeast of BLG017. It was composed of regularly laid roundwood elements. The wood was densely laid, with a single longitudinal that supported four transverses. The parallel transverse elements were located 0.05 to 0.15m apart. The elements were poorly preserved and cracked due to machine damage. The length of the elements varied between 0.3 and 1.2m in length and 0.05 and 0.09m in diameter. The underlying peat was composed of well-humified Sphagnum with moderate Calluna inclusions.
TN-BLG016c, Width 3.5m, Depth 0.07m
This sighting was located on the field surface, 15m northeast of TN-BLG016b. It was composed of regularly laid transverse brushwood and longitudinal elements located 0.1 to 0.3m apart. The elements were orientated southwest–northeast and were in very poor condition due to extensive machine damage. They measured 0.3 to 1.2m in length and 0.05 to 0.09m in diameter. The underlying peat was composed of well-humified Sphagnum peat with occasional Eriophorum inclusions.
TN-BLG016d, Width 3.5m, Depth 0.07m
This sighting was located on the field surface, 15m northeast of TN-BLG016c, and represented the northeastern extent of the togher. It was composed of eleven regularly laid transverse brushwood and longitudinal elements located 0.05 to 0.3m apart. The elements were orientated southwest–northeast and were in very poor condition due to extensive machine damage. They measured 1.2 to 3.5m in length and 0.06 to 0.07m in diameter. The underlying peat was composed of well-humified Sphagnum peat with occasional 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.