Road - class 3 togher

The National Monuments Service's description

The site (L 2.2m min.; Wth 1.4m; D 0.15m) consists of two pieces of heavy brushwood orientated NNE-SSW laid 0.5m apart. Over and between these are a large number of wood chips (L 0.15m max.; Wth 0.10) forming a matted surface. These elements are highly irregular in size and shape and all appear to be of oak. Light brushwood overlies this material at an almost perpendicular angle and a plank orientated N-S underlies it at the W edge of the site. The plank is abutted by an upright element and three further uprights flank the E side of the site. The wood is most concentrated towards the W edge of the site (Wth 0.8m) where the overall site orientation appears to be N-S. Woodworking is attested by the plank and a metal-cut chisel point on a piece of brushwood. The woodchips indicate irregular conversions and bear toolmarks. The wood is in good condition. Wood species include oak, ash, willow, birch and alder. The site has been radiocarbon-dated to 173 cal. BC-cal. AD 58 (UCD-0151). The surrounding peat consists mainly of poorly humified Sphagnum peat with a tuft of fibrous remains at the S end of the exposure. Fibrous stems are also noted through the site, running between the pieces, which may suggest a gradual deposition of wood.

Date of upload: 21 August 2013