2002:1576 - TOBERDALY, Offaly

This excavation was at the southern extremity of the Toberdaly complex (see No. 1564, Excavations 2002). Two sites were uncovered at different levels in the cutting. The first, most recent, was on the field surface and was unlike any of the other sites investigated on this side of the complex. It was composed of a series of longitudinal light roundwood (60%) and heavy brushwood (40%), which were oriented north–south in an organised manner. The measurements of the exposed site were 2.4m by 2m. The roundwoods were 0.7m long and 0.07m in diameter. The brushwoods were on average 0.2m long and 0.03m in diameter. Approximately 10% of the elements in this cutting had worked ends that were created by a metal axe (concave facets). There were fragmented light brushwood elements lying on the eastern side of the cutting. These fragments may once have functioned as transverse elements.

The second, earlier, site was c. 0.25m below the first and was very different in form. This site was traced for c. 10m and was 3.2m wide. It comprised two large roundwoods (tree trunks) underlain by diagonal roundwood and brushwood elements, which were secured in places with pegs. The wood was quite densely packed, with most of it in the northern half of the cutting. A flint convex scraper was recovered from between the largest roundwoods (tree trunks). The scraper was bifacial with possible invasive retouch.

This excavation represents the southern limit of the archaeological complex. The composition of the site, birch roundwood and torn pieces of pine, indicates that it is also part of the larger archaeological complex. Construction methods and materials are similar to those found in the site excavated under licence 02E1201 (No. 1578, Excavations 2002).

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