2002:1580 - TOBERDALY AND CLONIN, Offaly

Sites A and B were 15m apart on fen-wood carr peat at the eastern extent of Ballybeg Bog, Co. Offaly. These sites were recorded by the Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit, during its survey in 2001, as a prehistoric occupation site (Site A) and a barrow (Site B). Site A extended over an area of 40m by 15m, but, owing to time constraints, only 5m2 of it was excavated. It comprised a series of stone hearths and associated charcoal spreads. The hearths had been milled by Bord na Móna machinery and were quite disturbed, although some were clearly discernible as subcircular hearths, each defined by a ring of stones. They measured on average 12m in diameter and contained charcoal 0.05m deep. There was a thin layer of charcoal throughout the area under investigation, and underneath the charcoal spread was forest-floor material, comprising leaves and organic matter. It appeared that the hearths were constructed in the middle of an old pine/birch forest/wood. Many natural birch and pine roots were present throughout the area.

Site B was clearly indicated by the green vegetation that grew over the stone bank. This green vegetation was in stark contrast to the brown peat in which the site lay. On excavation and removal of the vegetation, it was noted that the site was a sub-square stone enclosure. The bank comprised a stone spread, 1.5m wide and 0.2m deep. The external dimensions of the enclosure were 9.5m north–south by 8.5m, and the internal dimensions were 7m by 8m. Because of time constraints, only half of this site was fully excavated. The excavation of the interior revealed a series of tree roots underneath which was a charcoal spread covering a forest-floor level. The charcoal spread was no more than 0.05m deep but was generally 0.03m. No entrance feature was discerned during excavation, and the stone bank was probably no higher than revealed during excavation. No sockets for posts were present in the bank, which indicated that the stone bank was never intended to be a high wall or a barrier fence, and it must have functioned as a demarcation of an area for a certain function.

The excavations at this site produced a few primary flint flakes and some flint debitage. The function of this site is unclear, as there was no evidence of post-holes, pits or any funerary activity. The site may have simply been a hunting pen or hide for the exploitation of the animals and birds that would have lived in and on the surrounding fen. The fens would have supported beds of reeds, rushes and sedges, with pools of open water as well as small streams running through them, and would have provided a suitable habitat for wildfowl that would have not been available on dry land.

The Bord na Móna drain sections, in between Sites A and B, were cleaned up and investigated. It was clear from them that there were more stone spreads in the Bord na Móna field between Sites A and B. The sections produced a stratigraphic sequence similar to that recorded during the excavation of both Site A and Site B. Further investigations are needed in this area to determine the nature and the relationship of the deposits between Sites A and B.

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