Structure - peatland

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 drain face sighting of three upright brushwood pegs and a dense cluster of six NW–SE orientated brushwoods, located 0.4m below the field surface (Whitaker 2014).

A single cutting was opened and excavated under licence 14E0289. A fragment of hazel was chosen for AMS dating and returned a result of cal. 39 BC–AD 83 (UBA 26621). The peat overlying and surrounding the site consisted of poorly decomposed Sphagnum pool peat. The structure consisted of a sparse arrangement of hazel and birch brushwood and roundwood (L0.08-1.1m, Diam. 0.02-0.07m) with no apparent form or structure. A single flat faceted chisel point was the only evidence for woodworking noted.

Compiled by: Jane Whitaker/Femke Vleeshouwer

Date of upload: 28/02/2020

References

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 Unpublished report prepared by IAC Ltd submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

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 Unpublished report prepared by ADS for Bord na Móna.