County: Offaly Site name: Rathdrum, Daingean South Bog
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 14E0306
Author: Jane Whitaker
Site type: Structure - Peatland
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 642830m, N 728873m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.308411, -7.357340
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 OF-DAS025 as a disperse arrangement of mainly north-east/south-west oriented light brushwood elements with four pegs along the eastern extent. The elements ranged in diameter from 0.03-0.05m and had a maximum surviving length of 0.25m. The pegs ranged in diameter from 0.02-0.04m and one was excavated and shown to have a surviving length of 0.4m. One of the elements was dated to AD 905–1149. The underlying peat was moderately humified sphagnum peat with frequent eriophorum inclusions. The find spot of OF-DAS025 was relocated using GPS. The surrounding field surface was cleaned and carefully investigated however no wood remained in situ.
IAC Ltd, Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow
