2022:210 - Edera Bog, Edera, Longford

Archaeological monitoring took place between August 2021 and February 2022 in respect to the Enhanced Decommissioning Restoration and Rehabilitation Scheme (EDRRS) at Edera Bog, Co. Longford. Edera bog encompasses the townlands of Ardoghil, Derrycolumb, Derrymacar, Derrynabuntale, Derrynagalliagh, Drumnee, Edera, Gorteenclareen and Ledwithstown in Co. Longford within the civil parishes of Ardagh, Cashel and Shrule and Baronies of Ardagh and Rathcline. The monitoring was carried out by Colum Hardy, Ger Dowling, Alan Healy and Niall Jones of Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS).

Edera bog, Co. Longford, was one of four specific bogs in Bord Na Móna ownership which was part of a pilot monitoring and recording brief. The other bogs included Pollagh Bog, Co. Offaly (21E0545), Ummeras Bog Co. Kildare/Offaly (21E0546) and Derrycolumb (21E0543) bog in Co. Longford.

The rehabilitation works consisting of cell production and drain blocking were archaeologically monitored between August 2021 and February 2022. The peat fields and drain sections were also monitored and inspected for any possible archaeological features.

Three elements of worked wood were identified on 15 December 2021, from peat that had been stripped to block drains. These consisted of a single piece of displaced worked brushwood (Site No.: LF-Edera-01) and a displaced wooden post and roundwood (Site No.: LF-Edera-02). These pieces of worked wood appear to have been displaced and, given the nature of the rehabilitation works and the disturbance of the peatfield surface, it is difficult to ascertain where their original location may have been.

Site No.: LF-Edera-01
A piece of worked brushwood was recorded lying flat on the surface of a peatfield (ITM 610671, 756757) where the peat had been removed to block an adjacent drain. It was oriented north–south, was located c.28m south of the buffer zone of a Class 1 togher (LF026-034) and measured 45mm in diameter and 760mm in length. It had a chisel point and two branch trimmings. It is highly likely that this worked piece of brushwood is not in its original location having been displaced by ongoing works on the bog.

Site No.: LF-Edera-02
A wooden post and roundwood (ITM 610644, 756751) lying 1m apart from each other were identified where peat had been stripped to block drains c.15m south of the buffer of a Class 1 togher LF026-034.
The post was oriented north–south and measured 110mm in diameter, 680mm long, and had evidence of bark present. It had an adjacent chisel point, 22 facets on two sides with visible signatures and a broken point. The cutting angle was very shallow, character flat and clean–ragged junctions with three tears, suggesting possibly an iron axe.
The roundwood was oriented north-west/south-east, measured 70mm in diameter, 435mm long and had evidence of bark present. It had a wedge point with working on the body of the wood, eight facets on the wedge and seven on the body. The cutting angle was very shallow, character flat and clean–ragged junctions with one large tear, suggesting possibly an iron axe.
Both pieces of worked wood appear to have been displaced from their original location.

Archaeological Management Solutions Ltd., Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare, V15 C780