2014:289 - Pallasboy, 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.
There was little overlying peat remaining at WM-TOR029a. It was composed of poorly humified sphagnum peat with frequent inclusions of eriophorum and patches of calluna and occasional sedge material. The main body of the site was 1.9–2.24m in width with some outlying elements and was traced for a total of 10m on the field surface. It was composed of fairly densely laid, mainly north–south oriented brushwood and occasional roundwoods, many of which had intact bark. The elements were laid a maximum of two to three deep with lighter brushwood forming the underlying elements. The elements ranged in diameter from 0.01–0.11m and had a maximum length of 2.08m. Woodworking was noted on several elements the majority of which were flat faceted chisel or wedge points. A date of AD 995–1153 was returned from a piece of willow brushwood. The underlying peat was moderately humified sphagnum peat with eriophorum, calluna and sedge inclusions.

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