County: Offaly Site name: Derryarkin
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 13E0005
Author: Leo Morahan
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 648317m, N 736583m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.377220, -7.273830
It is proposed to open a 25ha extension adjacent to a sand and gravel quarry operation (Kilmurry Pre-Cast Concrete) at Derryarkin, Rhode. The area was formerly tilled for peat by Bord Na Mona though the reserves were not exhausted with a reported 0.25m of peat remaining at the base. The Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit surveyed this general area between 2000 and 2002 revealing numerous wetland sites. Prior to this survey a togher (OF003-002) in Derrycoffey was the only monument known from this bog mass. As a result of the survey there is now a record of one primary togher in Derrygrenagh townland which ran for at least 68m. There are also three secondary toghers and four tertiary toghers, all from Bunsallagh townland. In addition, 13 sites were discovered which contained artificially worked wood with another four containing unworked wood; two sites from the latter are on record from Derryarkin though at a considerable distance from the proposed site. During the survey a late Mesolithic Bann flake was found in Derryarkin while a stone adze-head of Neolithic origin came from Derryarkin in 1969.
Fifteen 2m-wide trenches were excavated which ranged from 160m to 260m in length; all were cut to grey gravel or grey daub. Nothing of an archaeological nature became apparent from any part of the tested ground.
Roscrea, Moyard, Co. Galway.
