2000:0834 - CORHILL BOG, Lisdermot, Offaly

Excavations were carried out in Corhill 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. The field season ran from June to August 2000. This report describes the one-week excavation of two small brushwood platforms. These sites were first recorded as a brushwood and roundwood trackway in 1996 during the Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit field survey and traced for a length of 60m.

Excavation revealed that the site was not a linear structure but a series of small platforms. There were two platform structures (Sites A and B) excavated in two 2m x 2m cuttings at either end of the trackway (as the method statement, completed prior to excavation, recommended). These platforms are among a number of similar platforms excavated in the area (see Excavations 2000, Nos 833, 835–6). They were located in close proximity and lay on a natural gravel ridge within Corhill Bog. One of the platforms was located on the field surface; the other was located under 0.4m of peat.

Site A was beside a drain and could be seen protruding from the drain face. The site had been cut by the drain, leaving only the southern side remaining. Over 0.4m of peat was removed to reveal the site. The platform was composed of two distinct layers. The upper layer consisted of longitudinally placed brushwood and one transverse brushwood, which ran the maximum width of the site. The transverse weaved through the longitudinals. The lower layer of the platform consisted of tightly packed brushwood rods and some small twigs used to infill the gaps. The brushwoods were three deep in places and were placed both longitudinally and transversely. Four pegs were also noted during excavation. The site measured 1.8m in width and was 0.6m in depth. Its length could not be determined as it was cut by the drain on the northern side; however, it could not have measured more than 2.8m as it was not noted in the opposite drain face. The certainty that the southern side of the platform ends in this cutting comes from the fact that nearly all of the ends of the longitudinal brushwood were worked. The worked ends were recorded, and most of them were worked to chisel-points. The facets were cut with a metal axe, and one of the worked ends had a raised signature present.

Site B was c. 45m to the south of Site A. This platform structure was on the field surface and had been slightly milled. The platform was quite similar in construction to that excavated at Site A. It was composed of roundwood (30%) and brushwood (70%), which were for the most part longitudinally laid. This platform was composed of one distinct layer, and there were seven transverses revealed that wound in and out of the longitudinals. The structure resembled a haphazardly constructed hurdle panel. The platform was excavated in its entirety and measured 3m by 2m in total. Site A has been radiocarbon dated to between AD 783 and 1149 to 2 sigma (UCD-0102).

The two platforms were probably constructed around the same time period, although the dating of Site B will confirm this. It is possible that the sites were intended to serve as a small dry platform for hunting or other such activities.

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