Road - class 3 togher

The National Monuments Service's description

This site is located in the industrial peatlands of Toar Bog. It was recorded in the 2013 Re-assessment Peatland Survey as a possible togher located on the field surface near the drain edge, and composed of closely packed roundwood and brushwood elements (Whitaker 2014).

A single cutting was opened and excavated under licence 14E0283. A fragment of alder was chosen for AMS dating and returned a result of cal. AD 1291–1397 (UBA 26611). The site was situated in a fibrous, moderately humified Sphagnum peat with Eriophorum, Calluna and herbaceous root inclusions. The excavated cutting contained closely placed E-W orientated alder, ash, birch, hazel and willow roundwood and brushwood delineated by N-S orientated brushwood, contained within an area measuring 2.85m x 2.4m in size. The elements (L0.18-1.8m, Diam. 0.01-0.06m) were machine damaged and fractured along their lengths. Several of the elements had evidence of woodworking, in the form of chisel and wedge point ends with flat facets.

Some N-S oriented brushwood were located to the west of the main structure, 0-0.15m below the surface, contained in an area measuring 2.4 x 1.1m. These were composed of regularly shaped rods (max. L2.3m, Diam. 0.03-0.06m). While they may have been related to the main structure, they appear to have had a separate function.

Compiled by: Jane Whitaker/Femke Vleeshouwer

Date of upload: 02/03/2020

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 Unpublished report prepared by ADS for Bord na Móna.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 Unpublished report prepared by IAC Ltd submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.