2014:284 - Rathgarrett , Toar Bog, Westmeath

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 little peat remaining over WM-TOR063 was poorly humified sphagnum peat with frequent calluna inclusions and patches of eriophorum throughout. This site was composed of closely placed transversely laid roundwood, split roundwood and timbers, the ends and central portion of which were supported by longitudinal runners forming a surface 2.4–4.1m in width. The elements were mainly in poor condition and most were fractured along their length. The timbers ranged in size from 0.1–0.25m in width, 0.04–0.1m in depth and 0.7–2m in length and were mainly half splits. The roundwoods were 0.07–0.21m in diameter and 0.62–3.56m in length. A scatter of brushwood supporting elements were noted amongst the longitudinal runners and these ranged in size from 0.01–0.06m in diameter and 0.05–2.5m in length. A date of 183–46 BC was returned from a piece of birch roundwood. The underlying peat was moderately humified sphagnum pool peat with frequent patches of eriophorum and calluna inclusions.

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