2000:App2 - IRISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL WETLAND UNIT (IAWU) FIELDWORK 2000, Counties Westmeath and Offaly, Westmeath

In the summer of 2000, the IAWU began a survey of the bogs in Bord na Móna’s Derrygreenagh Works. This group of bogs includes fifteen principal bogs and covers a total area of c. 9500ha. The bogs lie between the towns of Edenderry, Tullamore, Mullingar and Portarlington and fall within the counties of Laois, Meath, Offaly and Westmeath. The bogs are currently being exploited for milled peat production. The survey took place over a nine-week period, most of which was spent in Toar Bog, Co. Westmeath. Initial visits were also made to Derryarkin and Clonad Bogs, Co. Offaly. The locational information for all sites recorded in Toar Bog, the accompanying maps and a record of the threats facing the bog have been submitted to the NMHPS for inclusion in the Record of Monuments and Places.

Toar Bog
Toar Bog lies south of Tyrellspass, Co. Westmeath, and is 430ha in total area. It has been in production since 1983, with an extension in production in 1993. A total of 409 sites were recorded from this bog, including just over 50 toghers. The sites were largely concentrated in the south-western area of the bog, with a marked fall-off in the number of sites recorded in its eastern half. A considerable number of artefacts were recovered during the survey, including leather shoes and fragments of leather (both in association with sites and as isolated finds), a stray hone stone, a bronze stick-pin within the context of a togher, a bog butter possibly in a wicker container and a large wooden vessel. The bog butter and the wooden vessel were lifted following consultation with the National Museum of Ireland, and the vessel was excavated by Cara Murray of the IAWU (see Excavations 2000, No. 1036.)

The preliminary dendrochronological and radiocarbon dates returned for some sites in Toar Bog suggest that most of the sites recorded during this fieldwork season belong to an Iron Age to early medieval horizon.

Derryarkin Bog
Derryarkin Bog is situated south of Rochfortbridge. The bog is 789ha in total area and is nearing the end of its production. A survey of Derryarkin Bog began at the end of the season but was not completed because of time constraints. Although no archaeological sites were identified in situ, a stray Mesolithic Bann Flake was found on the periphery of the bog near the end of a Bord na Móna field.

Clonad Bog
Clonad Bog is located between Daingean and Geashill, Co. Offaly, and is 411ha in total area. A visit to the bog was made by the IAWU in July following the discovery by Bord na Móna operatives of a bog butter in a solid, lidded, wooden vessel. The vessel had been slightly damaged by machinery but was otherwise in excellent condition. The vessel was retrieved by the IAWU and delivered to the National Museum of Ireland for conservation. During the visit, the operatives also pointed out a substantial possible prehistoric plank trackway that ran across the bog.

Belfield, Dublin 4