County: Roscommon Site name: CLS107, Caul, Cloonshannagh Bog
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 14E0264
Author: Tim Coughlan
Site type: Class 3 Togher Road
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 602880m, N 780937m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.778007, -7.956306
Cloonshannagh Bog is located 3km north-west of Termonbarry and 2.5km west of Lough Forbes. The bog is part of the Bord na Móna Mountdillon Group and has a total area of 331 hectares. A survey by ADS in 2008 under licence 08E0645 identified a total of 88 sites. Upon re-assessment by ADS in 2013 under licence 13E0221 89 sites were recorded. Of the 89 sightings, 60 were platform sightings, 18 sightings were of archaeological wood and 11 were trackway sightings, all of varying lengths and widths. Of these 35 sites were listed for excavation as part of the current contract.
At CLS107 a single cutting measuring 4.5m by 4m was opened at the recorded sighting. The overlying peat was reddish brown in colour and poorly decomposed (H1-H2) with frequent inclusions of eriophorum, and occasional ones of calluna, s. cuspidatum, and hazelnut shell fragments.
The site consisted of at least three, and possibly four, hurdle panels laid transversely. Each of the panels was recorded and sampled separately. The panels had been laid from the west, with each subsequent panel slightly overlying the previous one. The western panel was nearest to the drain edge and its western extent had been disturbed by milling. It had a maximum dimensions of 3.3m by 1.25m and the elements ranged in size from 4mm (rods) to 36mm (sails). It was constructed with occasional double sails, and the weave was standard alternate under-over type.
The second and central panel measured 3.6m x 1.46m and the elements ranged in size from 5mm (rods) to 40mm (sails). Unlike panel 1 there was no evidence of double sails, although the weave was similar. The third panel was located in the east of the cutting and was similar in construction to the central panel and measured 3.33m by 1.4m, with elements ranging from 5mm (rods) to 45mm (sails).
The peat beneath the hurdles was a reddish brown sphagnum peat with frequent eriophorum and calluna. It was poorly humified (H1-H2).
A date of AD 257–410 was returned from a piece of 5-year old hazel stake.
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