Road - class 3 togher

The National Monuments Service's description

This site was located in the industrial peatlands of Toar Bog. It was recorded in the 2013 Re-assessment Peatland Survey as a substantial transversely laid roundwood togher orientated NE-SW, exposed on the field surface, and traced for a length of 26m. The upper transverse elements were closely placed. These were supported on longitudinal roundwood runners placed at either end of the transverses, with a third underneath the central part of the transverses (Whitaker 2014).

A single cutting was opened and excavated under licence 14E0293. A fragment of birch was chosen for AMS dating and returned a result of cal. 183–46 BC (UBA 26625). The site was situated in Spaghnum peat, although little was remaining covering the structure. The togher (W2.4-4.1m) was composed of closely placed transversely laid roundwood, split roundwood and timbers, the ends and central portion of which were supported by longitudinal runners. The elements were alder and birch, mainly in poor condition, and most were fractured along their length. A scatter of brushwood supporting elements was noted amongst the longitudinal runners. A total of 27 worked ends were noted which were a combination of chisel and wedge points. All had flat facets.

Compiled by: Jane Whitaker/Femke Vleeshouwer

Date of upload: 28/02/2020

References

Whitaker, J. 2014 Re‐assessment Peatland Survey 2013, Blackwater, Boora, Derrydreenagh, Mountdillon Group of Bogs, County Offaly, Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon. Unpublished report prepared by ADS for Bord na Móna.

Whitaker, J. 2017 Final Excavation Report, Toar, Co. Westmeath (14E0278–14E0296). Unpublished report prepared by IAC Ltd submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.