2009:883 - BAUNMORE BOG, Tipperary

Excavations took place in Inchirourke townland in Baunmore Bog, Co. Tipperary (South). The site was excavated under the licensee Nicola Rohan then of Archaeological Development Services (ADS). The excavations in Baunmore Bog were carried out as part of the mitigation of archaeological zones within Industrial Peatlands.

A single cutting, orientated north-south and measuring 4m in length by 3m in width, was excavated over the site identified as a possible togher (TS036-058) during the 2006 Peatland Survey. This site was described as being composed of longitudinal roundwood on a substructure of light brushwood. It was orientated north-east/south-west and was subsequently dated to 1310 to 910 BC.

Excavation revealed that the site had been heavily milled since it was first recorded in the 2006 survey. The surviving elements were contained within an area measuring 1.5-3.2m in length, 1.1-1.8m in width and 0.01 to 0.09m in depth.

It was composed of longitudinally laid roundwood elements underlain by transverse and longitudinally laid brushwood elements. A displaced substantial oak longitudinal roundwood was located 0.3m to the south-east of the main structure. Single pegs were placed either side of the densest part of the site. The elements were in a moderate state of preservation and were densely laid 0.01-0.3m apart. The longitudinal elements ranged from 0.25-2.85m in length and 0.06-0.12m in diameter. The brushwood ranged from 0.05-0.3m in length and 0.01-0.03m in diameter while the two pegs measured 15mm to 0.05m in diameter.

Two slot trenches were excavated to the north and south of the cutting but the site did not survive beyond the cutting. The site classification remains therefore as a possible togher.

Please see final report:
Whitaker, J. and Rohan, N. 2019. Final Excavation Report for Baunmore Bog (Licences: 09E0294, 09E0295, 09E0296), Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd., 2019. Unpublished report prepared by IAC Archaeology.