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 roundwood and brushwood elements exposed in section in the drain face and on the field surface, and traced for a length of 13m. This site was orientated E-W and was recorded at two sightings (Whitaker 2014).

A single cutting was opened and excavated under licence 14E0281. A fragment of birch was chosen for AMS dating and returned a result of cal. AD 1297–1402 (UBA 26608). The site was over- and underlain by poorly humified peat. It was composed of two distinct wood layers separated by another peat layer. The upper surface (W1.2-2.8m) was composed of a haphazard arrangement of fragmentary hazel and birch brushwood and occasional roundwood elements (L0.05-1.1m, Diam. 0.02-0.06m). The lower layer of wood (W1.15-2.2m) was composed of alder, ash, birch, hazel and pomoideae elements and was similar in construction to the layer above but was composed of more densely laid elements (L0.09-0.49m, Diam. 0.01-0.17m). They were in fairly good condition. Several worked ends were noted, the majority of which were chisel point ends with simple flat facets.

Compiled by: Jane Whitaker/Femke Vleeshouwer

Date of upload: 02/03/2020

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 Unpublished report prepared by IAC Ltd submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.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 Unpublished report prepared by ADS for Bord na Móna.