County: Offaly Site name: CLONADERG/CARROWKEEL/CLONFINLOUGH/ CLONGAWNEY/DOON DEMESNE/GLEBE/LACKAGH BEG/LACKAGH MORE, BALLAGHURT BOG
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 09E0403
Author: Nicola Rohan, Archaeological Development Services Ltd, Unit D, Kells Business Park, Cavan Road, Kells, Co. Meath.
Site type: Peatland survey
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 607534m, N 729712m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.317629, -7.886926
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. Ballaghurt Bog is located 2.5km south of Ballinahown, Co. Westmeath. Within the Blackwater group it is located north-east of Blackwater Bog and south-east of Bloomhill Bog. It has a total area of 529ha, the majority of which was in full production at the time of survey. There was a small area of cutaway that is covered with heather close to the western side of the bog.
A total of 28 archaeological sites, identified during the first-round survey of Ballaghurt Bog in 1992, were lodged in the records of the Archaeological Survey of Ireland. The majority of these sites were located in proximity to the western edge of the bog. None of the previously identified sites remained extant since the last survey.
A single sighting of archaeological wood (OFBLT001), which was composed of two upright brushwood pegs, was identified in proximity to the western side of the bog. A fragmented vessel lid was also found in proximity to the western side of Ballaghurt Bog. It was ex situ and was probably deposited in the drain face during ditch-cutting. It was semicircular in shape and broken along one side, indicating that it was just under half of its original size. It was finely worked along both surfaces and along the circumference of the lid, which was bevelled. The lid measured 21mm in depth, 0.495m in length and ranged between 0.175 and 0.245m in width. It appeared to be the lid of a tub-type vessel, which would suggest an Iron Age date for the artefact.
