County: Westmeath Site name: Rathgarrett,Toar Bog
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 14E0296
Author: Jane Whitaker
Site type: Structure - Peatland
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 642583m, N 735834m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.370981, -7.360109
Toar Bog was initially surveyed by the Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit during the 2000 Archaeological Survey of Ireland Peatland Survey. In 2005 and 2006 33 sites were excavated under 25 licences by the author. A re-assessment survey of Toar Bog was carried out in 2013 and subsequently a further 19 sites were proposed for excavation in 2014 as part of the Bord na Móna Mitigation Project in the townlands of Killavally, Pallasboy, Montrath and Rathgarrett.
The peat overlying and surrounding WM-TOR068 was almost completely undecomposed sphagnum pool peat with phragmities, menanythes and eriophorum inclusions. The excavated site comprised of a brushwood hurdle panel measuring measured 0.13–0.8m in width and 2.68m in length that was truncated by the drain edge. It was composed of three north-east/-south-west oriented sails that ranged in diameter from 22–23mm and were a maximum of 2.24m in length. The densely woven rods were 18–24mm in diameter. A date of 411–238BC was returned from a piece of ash brushwood.
IAC Ltd, Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow
