2005:1595 - RATTIN, Westmeath

Excavations were undertaken in advance of realignment of the N6, between Kinnegad and Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath, in 2004 (Excavations 2004, No. 1748, 04E0908). Three sites (Rattin 3, 4, and 5) were excavated in Rattin townland, near the eastern end of the scheme. Rattin 4 (A001/004) comprised a post-medieval building and, c. 1.4km to the north-west, a number of parallel large timbers forming a trackway (Rattin 3).
Rattin 3 consisted of a number of substantial timbers forming a trackway across the bog. Three main layers of the track were uncovered, with four other levels of timbers in between. The trackway may be associated with the occupation of a tower-house c. 300m to the south.
Thirty-two timbers made up the main part of the platform, with a large amount of branches and minor timbers around the larger timbers. Species identification and ring-width analysis will be carried out on these timbers where possible. The upper layer (Level I) of the track is made up of five east–west-orientated timbers that were longitudinally laid, and one support timber fragment; they were not substantial enough to have been part of the walking surface of the track and were similar to a lower layer used to support transverse timbers, with the transverse timbers forming the walking surface of the track. However, there was no evidence for a layer over Level I. Level II consisted of a small layer of timbers parallel to each other and directly below the upper layer of the track. These were possibly placed to create a firmer platform in the peat on which the upper timbers could rest. The layer below this (Level III) was made up of five large transverse (orientated north–south) timbers and two fragments. The fragments were badly decomposed. Below Level III there were a number of timbers that probably acted as supports for Level III; these have been grouped as Level IV. Below this in turn was Level V, which consisted of two medium support timbers found between Level IV and VI. Level VI was the lowest layer and was made up of a transverse timber, two support fragments and one fragment that was possibly part of another but had broken off and dropped to a lower level. T20 was the only large transverse not in Level III and, although it is on a similar orientation to some of the transverse timbers in Level III, it does not seem to form part of an earlier track surface.
In the south-west area of the site were a number of isolated timbers, similar to support timbers used to give a more solid base for the track. The majority are branches, perhaps indicating that these were a natural event and not archaeological in nature. Although these timbers were not stratigraphically related to the rest of the timbers, on the basis of height/depth within the peat they were assigned to Level IV. A number of layers of sandy sediment were associated with them.
North-east of the main area there were two major transverse timbers (T24 and T25) and a number of smaller timbers. These ran north to south and may be a continuation of the main trackway.
There were no clear toolmarks on any of the timbers, but they were slightly decomposed and this may have removed traces of working on the wood. A number of the timbers had intact root bases, perhaps indicating that this was a simple track used for traversing the bog on foot over a short period of time.
A local tradition exists for there having been a togher in this vicinity (the adjacent modern road is known as the Togher Road). This trackway appears to be the remains of a routeway between the high, dry ground to the north and south, possibly linking Kinnegad with the tower-house c. 300m to the south of this site.