2014:342 - CLS138, Cloonshannagh, Cloonshannagh Bog, Roscommon

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.

A 4m x 4m cutting was opened at the recorded sighting of CLS138. The overlying peat varied slightly between the east and west sides of the cutting. On the west it was moderately to well decomposed (H3) sphagnum peat with eriophorum and sedge inclusions turning dark brown when oxidised. On the east side it was slightly less well decomposed (H2) and mid brown when oxidised again with inclusions of sphagnum moss, eriophorum and sedge.

The site consisted of roundwoods and brushwoods laid in a generally haphazard manner. The overall combined orientation is roughly east–west. The elements were relatively sparsely set and were in poor condition, often fragmentary and those at the surface had been milled. A number of worked ends were identified many associated with small brushwood pegs or stakes. As with the other elements of the structure there was no clearly identifiable pattern to the stakes. The roundwoods ranged in size from 0.3–0.57m long and 70–115mm in diameter. The brushwoods were 0.08–0.84m in length and 15–52mm in diameter, including the pegs/stakes which were also within this range.

The peat below the site consisted of sphagnum peat with inclusions of calluna, sedge, bogbean, and occasional eriophorum. It was relatively poorly decomposed (H2).

A date of AD 418–571 was returned from a piece of yew stake.

IAC Ltd, Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow