2009:676 - BALLYNAHOWNWOOD/BALLYDUFF/ CLONADERG/CLONASCRA/CLONCRAFF OR BLOOMHILL/CLONFINLOUGH, BLOOMHILL BOG, Offaly

The Re-assessment Survey 2009 included Blackwater, Ballaghurt, Bloomhill, Clooniff, Garryduff and Kilmacshane Bogs, which are part of the Bord na M)na (BnM) Blackwater group of bogs. The Blackwater group of bogs was initially surveyed by the IAWU, in 1992 and 1993. The objective of the Reassessment Survey was to re-identify any surviving previously recorded sites, identify new sites and subsequently record all archaeological sites identified during the course of survey. Bloomhill Bog is located 1km west of Ballinahown, Co. Westmeath. Within the Blackwater group, it is located north-east of Blackwater Bog and north-west of Ballaghurt Bog. It has a total area of 976ha, the majority of which was in production at the time of survey. The bog surrounds the dryland island of Bloomhill and the Shannon River flows to the west of the bog. The Offaly/Westmeath county boundary runs from northwest to south-east along the north-east side of the bog.
A total of 35 archaeological sites, identified during the first-round survey of Bloomhill Bog in 1992/3, were lodged in the records of the Archaeological Survey of Ireland. The previously identified sites included a large multi-phase trackway (WM–035–017/ OF006–001(001)), which dated from the 6th to the 13th century AD. Portions of the site were excavated in 1983 and 1986 by Breen (1988) and by the IAWU in 1992 (92E0176). Breen identified eight phases of construction close to the dryland at the southern end of the site and both Breen and the IAWU recorded three phases towards the centre of the bog. The majority of the other sites initially identified by the IAWU were located in a cluster, in proximity to the multi-phase trackway. A smaller number of sites were recorded on the western side of the bog.
The multi-phase trackway was re-identified during the re-assessment survey (OF-BML001). The site was composed of large flagstones and gravel exposed on the field surface. At the northern end of the trackway, and at one location in the centre of the trackway, the site was indicated by dense vegetation located towards the edges of the field surface and within the drains. The gravel or clays within the trackway, which survive subsurface, provide drier conditions that allow the vegetation to flourish. The site was not visible beyond the BnM production fields. A hand-held GPS was used to find the location of the remaining previously identified sites but all, with the exception of the large trackway, were no longer extant. Five newly identified sites, including one hurdle panel and five sightings of archaeological wood, were also identified to the east of the multi-phase trackway.
Reference
Breen, T.C. Excavation of a roadway at Bloomhill Bog, County Offaly. PRIA 88c, 321–39.