2007:802 - DERRYARROGE, Kildare

This site was identified during the 2005 Peatland Survey conducted by ADS (Whitaker 2005) on behalf of Bord na Móna. The excavation of this site revealed the remains of a substantial wooden trackway. The construction method and the materials used appear to be quite uniform along its length. The original construction was of longitudinal roundwoods and planks supported by occasional transverse roundwoods and planks with some underlying brushwood and brushwood packing. This structure formed a walking surface that was a maximum of 1.83m wide.

This site was dated to between AD 660 and AD 890 after the 2005 Peatland Survey. There are no known dryland sites on the edge of this part of the bog. The north-western extent of the trackway, however, does head towards a low hill on the margin of the bog. It is possible that there may be a previously unknown archaeological site here and this hill may be worth investigating in the future. The other extent of the trackway is much more difficult to determine, as it extends into private bog and forestry.

Reference
Whitaker, J. 2005 Peatland Survey 2005: Allen, Kilberry and Coolnamóna Bogs, Counties Kildare, Laois, Meath, Offaly and Westmeath. Unpublished report. Archaeological Development Services Ltd, Dublin.