2014:353 - CLS115, Caul/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. During the 2010 ADS Ltd excavations (Rohan & Whitaker 2013) it became apparent that four sites initially identified as platforms were, in fact, part of a single large north-north-east/south-south-west-oriented trackway. From west to east these sites were RO-CLS075, RO-CLS017, RO-CLS087 and RO-CLS088 which correspond to the sightings numbered during the 2013 Re-Assessment survey as RO-CLS115a-d respectively. These sites were excavated under licences 10E0255 (RO-CLS075), 10E0271 (RO-CLS017), 10E0278 (RO-CLS087) and 10E0262 (RO-CLS088). The 2014 cutting was located between the previous excavations 10E0278 (RO-CLS087) and 10E0262 (RO-CLS088). The cutting was located on the western side of the field on the opposite side of the drain to RO-CLS087, and on the opposite side of the same field to RO-CLS088. Above the site was an orange-brown sphagnum peat which was poorly humified (H1-H2) with occasional green peat towards the northern end of the cutting. There were inclusions of eriophorum and occasional hazelnut shells – particularly close to the surface of the track. The primary substructure layer of the track consisted of a dense scatter of brushwood, densest in the west of the cutting. There was no defined pattern to the deposit and it was 1–2 layers deep. The wood was generally in moderate to good condition. The brushwood elements were fairly uniform in diameter (40mm) which may indicate evidence of woodland management. They varied in length from 0.1–1m. At the north side of the cutting a number of natural tree root systems had been incorporated into the structure, possibly suggesting that the route of the track was marked by or followed a line of trees/shrubs. A series of possible brushwood pegs were recorded randomly scattered through the brushwood substructure layer. However, on excavation, few of these were worked and were not of any significant length. It is now interpreted that these were elements of the brushwood substructure that were displaced/landed at an angle of 45 degrees rather than being deliberately driven as pegs. Overlying the brushwood substructure were a series of east-west orientated longitudinally laid roundwoods and heavy brushwoods. The elements were not densely packed but survived in generally good condition. They varied in size from 1–5m in length and from 55–80mm in diameter. Their size and length would have provided a good foundation for the overlying transverse-laid superstructure. The superstructure was only noted in the west of the cutting adjacent to the drain face and it must be assumed that the remainder has been removed in antiquity. The roundwoods were tightly packed where they survived providing a substantial surface. The roundwoods were between 1.5–3.8m in length and from 0.09–0.2m in diameter. One timber may represent an artefact (14E275:1152:1) as the notched end may have an anthropomorphic shape. The eastern end of the timber had a multi-faceted wedge-shaped end. There was no evidence of other working along the 3.8m length of the timber and as such it is unclear whether this timber was deliberately anthropomorphic in shape or whether the notched end had a functional use. The toolmarks will be analysed by woodworking specialists during post-excavation works and appropriate reporting and conservation will follow as required. The site is currently undated as a suitable sample was not available from the 2013 ADS survey so dating of the site will follow as part of the post-excavation works. The site clearly represents a substantial trackway across the bog. It is hoped that in the final report, following specialist analyses and additional research, this trackway can be placed in it archaeological context. This will involve consultation with the results of the previous excavations along its length in 2010, for which there are currently no dates or final reports.

Reference:

Rohan, N and Whitaker, J. 2013. Preliminary Report on Excavations in Caul, Cloonmore and Cloonshannagh townlands, Cloonshannagh Bog, Co. Roscommon. ADS Unpublished Report submitted to DOE H&LG.

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