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 an E-W orientated roundwood and brushwood togher exposed on the field surface, and was traced across the entire width of the field. It had no discernible structure and may represent the sub-structural remains of a more substantial site (Whitaker 2014).

A single cutting was opened and excavated under licence 14E0282. A fragment of willow was chosen for AMS dating and returned a result of cal. AD 1294–1403 (UBA 26609).
The find spot was identified by GPS on 28th August 2014 when a sparse scatter of birch, hazel and willow brushwood and heavy roundwood (L0.23-1.48m, Diam. 0.03-0.12m) was revealed by cleaning away the loose milled peat by hand. The site was contained within an area measuring 3.2m x 1.8m. All elements were machine damaged, dried out and in poor condition. The surrounding peat was moderately humified Sphagnum peat with Eriophorum, Calluna and sedge inclusions.

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 Unpublished report prepared by ADS for Bord na Móna.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 Unpublished report prepared by IAC Ltd submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.