2000:0825 - DERRYNAGUN BOG, Lemanaghan, Offaly

Excavations were carried out in Derrynagun Bog, Co. Offaly, as part of the Bord na Móna Archaeological Mitigation Project. These excavations were undertaken to resolve known archaeological sites so that Bord na Móna could resume peat production in areas that had been cleared of archaeology. Derrynagun Bog is to the north-east of Lemanaghan dryland island, where the site of the monastic establishment of St Manchan of Liath is reputed to have been founded in the middle of the 7th century. This site was located next to Nos 821 and 824 Excavations 2000, at 53.084m OD, and was one of a series of small brushwood and roundwood platforms excavated alongside a Bord na Móna drain edge (see Nos 819–24 and 826 for the other sites).

This site ran up to and abutted a large area of pool peat. This pool peat was very recognisable because of its bright yellow appearance, in contrast to the brown peat located beside it. The pool measured 4m by 1.5m, was 0.4m deep and contained bog bean and reeds. The drain on the north-western side had cut through the site, and there was no indication of the site in the opposite drain face. It was therefore concluded that the north-western end of the site had been destroyed when the Bord na Móna drains were cut. The site was composed of approximately 50 densely compacted brushwood, twigs and leaves. There were some large transverses recorded within the layer, while the remaining brushwood elements ran in a longitudinal fashion. The transverses averaged 35mm in diameter, while the longitudinals averaged 20mm in diameter. The brushwood was between 0.1m and 0.7m in length. All of the elements had bark remaining on them. The leaves and twigs were in the upper layers of the structure. It was difficult to tell whether these leaves and twigs were attached to the wood when they were cut down or whether they were thrown into the site as packing material. There were no pegs associated with this site. Most of the worked ends recorded were chisel-pointed and single-faceted. The facets appear to have been cut with a metal axe.

It was concluded that this site is a small (2m x 1m), compactly lain platform located beside an area of open water. It is difficult to tell whether the pool was a consequence of the construction of the site or whether the site was a consequence of the pool, and this is an area that needs to be investigated further. It is possible that the wood was intended to serve as a small, dry platform for hunting or other such activities.

Windsor House, 11 Fairview Strand, Fairview, Dublin 3