2013:286 - Kinnegad (Rossan) Bog, Meath

Townlands: Knockersally or Colehill, Moydrum or Bogstown, New Park, Ticroghan and Rossan

The discovery of the partial remains of a bog body in Kinnegad (Rossan) Bog, Co. Meath in December 2012, and of newly identified archaeological material in January 2013, prompted a follow-up field survey of the raised bog in which the human remains were located. The survey was completed under the auspices of the Archaeological Survey of Ireland and funded by the National Monuments Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The survey’s aims were to identify any and all archaeological deposits including, if possible, the original location of the bog body now known as Moydrum Man (NMI:2013:51). Field survey took place between the 5th and 22nd November 2013. Conditions underfoot were difficult because the bog surface was saturated and drains were frequently inaccessible because of high water levels.

The bog is an industrially-milled bog owned and operated by Bord na Móna (BNM) situated 1 km south of the town of Kinnegad. It once covered an area of at least 330 Ha and today around 260 Ha are currently in production with peat harvested for horticultural purposes. North-south running drains are in place every 15 m which mainly run the full length of the bog and define the limits of each production field. The bog is known locally as Ballinabrackey Bog. It is one of several bogs within the area of Cloghjordan-Ballinabrackey-Edenderry under consideration as potential Wind Farm sites. The bog may therefore be subject to a change in land use in the near future.

An archaeological survey completed in 2005 (licence no. 05E0795) identified 19 archaeological sites, all situated in the southern end of the bog. Eight of these sites were subject to partial excavation in 2007 (licence nos 07E0496 to 07E0501). Dates obtained following the survey and excavations returned prehistoric dates, mainly Bronze Age with one early medieval monument represented. Two of the known sites were relocated in 2013, namely the linear trackways ME046-28 and -029 and four other known sites may be represented by two monuments identified in 2013.

Results

Definitive human remains were not identified during the course of the survey and the original location of Moydrum Man was not established. However, 107 sightings representing 42 archaeological monuments and one find were identified. This includes four Road Class 1 Toghers, four Road Class 2 Toghers, six Road Class 3, 28 Structures-peatland and one find in the form of crumbs of adipocere, perhaps bog butter or adipocere of possible human origin.

Of the 42 monuments and one find identified, two represent previously known monuments. Another two appear to equate to four monuments listed within the SMR. There were therefore 38 new sites and one find recorded in 2013. Archaeological monuments were identified within the townlands of Knockersally or Colehill, Moydrum or Bogstown, New Park, Rossan and Ticroghan. Most of the sites are located are located in the vicinity of a ridge and/or dryland-island located in the southern end of the bog. However new sites were identified in southeast, southwest and northeast.

The 2013 survey extended the lengths of two previously known monuments, namely the Road Class 1 Toghers, ME046-028 and ME046-29. The former was extended in the west by 98 m and new sightings were identified along its length. The togher now has a known length of 150 m. The second Road Class 1 Togher, ME046-29 was extended at each end increasing its previous recorded length of 250 m to 422 m. Other trackways newly identified in 2013 extend from 19 m to 308 m long. All suggest a significance human presence in the bog, most probably in the prehistory.

Crumbs of adipocere or bog butter were identified on the field surface in Knockersally or Colehill townland scattered over an area about 10 m in diameter; the crumbs were displaced from their original location by milling. The original source of the crumbs was not identified but their discovery brings the number of bog butter and/or potential bog butter finds from the bog to three. The recovery of partial human remains on two further separate occasions since this discovery (and held by the National Museum of Ireland) increases the potential for these crumbs to be human in origin.

In Rossan, one new Structure-peatland was traced for almost 15 m but may represent several individual structures. These could not be teased apart given the density of material present and the uneven exposure of the deposits. A worked end from the site had stone tool marks suggesting at least Neolithic origins. This suggests a human presence on the bog significantly earlier than the current dating record implies.

The 2013 survey resulted in the identification of 42 archaeological monuments and one find. This represents more than a two-fold increase on the number previously known within the bog. Four of these monuments were previously known with 38 new monuments and one new find now recorded. Of these new discoveries, 11 Structures-peatland and the one find were resolved during survey. Another two previously unknown Structures-peatland are not proposed for registration because of incomplete field data. There are therefore, 25 new monuments present within the bog that require protection and/or immediate excavation.

The 2013 survey increased the number, and broadened the distribution, of archaeological monuments known in the bog. This demonstrates the continued archaeological potential of the bog as a whole and the value of repeat survey of industrial peatlands.

TVAS Ireland Ltd, Ahish, Ballinruan, Crusheen, Co. Clare