County: Offaly Site name: Rathdrum, Daingean South Bog
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 14E0300
Author: Jane Whitaker
Site type: Structure - Peatland
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 643144m, N 728392m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.304064, -7.352695
Daingean South Bog was surveyed by the Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (IAWU) during the 2001 Archaeological Survey of Ireland Peatland Survey. In 2004 seven sites were excavated by Sinclair Turrell as part of the Bord na Móna Mitigation Project. A Re-Assessment survey was carried out on behalf of Bord na Móna in 2013 by the author under licence 13E0230 and subsequently twelve sites were excavated in August 2014 by IAC Ltd during the 2014-2017 BnM Mitigation Project.
The 2013 survey recorded this site (OF-DAS003) as four light brushwood elements exposed in section in an eastern drain face 0.08m below the field surface. The elements were a maximum of 0.03m in diameter and were sparsely laid in moderately humified sphagnum peat with frequent calluna and sedge inclusions. A single cutting measuring 2m x 3m was proposed for excavation at OF-DAS003. The find spot of this site was relocated using GPS and the drain face carefully investigated however no wood remained in situ. A sample taken during the survey was dated to AD 997–1155.
IAC Ltd, Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow
