2006:2076 - Toar Bog, Pallasboy, Westmeath

This site was one of twenty excavated in Toar Bog, Co. Westmeath, as part of the 2006 Bord na Móna archaeological mitigation programme. Five sites had previously been excavated by the author in 2005 (see No. 2042 above). This site was identified in 2000 as a secondary togher constructed of longitudinally laid pieces of brushwood and twigs, evident at five sightings (WM-PBY0235). The site was recorded on and near the field surface, with extensive milling damage at several of the sightings.
Three cuttings were excavated, each measuring 3m by 4m. The site was composed of longitudinally laid heavy brushwood and roundwood four to five layers deep that were oriented north-north-east/south-south-west. The elements were closely placed, ranging in diameter from 10mm to 65mm, and there was evidence of occasional bark and wood chip packing between them. There were occasional pegs along the sides of the site, although these were relatively short in length and were inserted into the underlying peat at a relatively shallow angle. Many of the elements had well-preserved toolmarks that were flat in character and had an average cutting angle of 30–60°. While the construction remained the same, the site varied slightly in density between the cuttings and its width also varied from 0.72m to 3.65m. Further sighting of the site were traced to both the north and south, which has extended its original length from 70m to 110m. This site has been radiocarbon dated to ad 1284–1421.