County: Longford Site name: Derrycolumb Bog
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 21E0543
Author: Colum Hardy
Site type: Two wooden platforms, hurdle/brushwood trackway
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 607910m, N 760910m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.597984, -7.880503
Archaeological monitoring took place between August 2021 and February 2022 in respect to the Enhanced Decommissioning Restoration and Rehabilitation Scheme (EDRRS) at Derrycolumb Bog, Co. Longford.
Derrycolumb 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 Edera (21E0544) 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.
Four sites on Derrycolumb Bog were identified during monitoring of rehabilitation works. These included a brushwood and roundwood platform (LF-Derrycolumb-01), a hurdle and possible brushwood trackway (LF-Derrycolumb-02), the location of a worked wooden post (LF-Derrycolumb-03) and a wooden platform (LF-Derrycolumb-04).
Site No.: LF-Derrycolumb-01
LF-Derrycolumb-01 consisted of a brushwood and roundwood platform located south of the road between Derrymany and Derrynagran bog islands (ITM 607198, 761103), approximately 30m south-east of a possible platform (LF022-155) and approximately 37m north-west of a possible class 3 togher (LF022-062042). Investigation through a test pit and linear slot trench indicated the platform to be 0.03m below the surface and measured 2.4m in width, 6–8m in length and 0.25m deep. It was constructed of interlaced horizontally laid brushwood (max. 0.04m diameter), roundwood (max. 0.06m diameter) and twigs and was oriented north-west/south-east. There were several worked ends (chisel point) on some of the brushwood with occasional branch trimming visible on some of the roundwoods.
Site No.: LF-Derrycolumb-02
A hurdle and possible brushwood trackway was identified at the western edge of the bog in Cormaglava townland (ITM 606872, 760196). A 2m x 1m test pit was opened across the hurdle which was oriented east–west. The hurdle, possibly constructed of hazel, measured 0.9m east–west by 0.4m with the sails running east–west and the rods running north–south. The sails were evident in two groupings of four with a maximum diameter of 0.02m. A total of 44 rods were recorded with a maximum diameter of 0.02m each
An additional 1m x 1m test pit and slot trench (c.1.5m long x 0.3m wide) were opened to the east, adjacent to the hurdle where some horizontally laid brushwood with possible worked ends were evident. Two additional small test pits (0.6m x 0.4m and 0.8m x 0.6m) were opened in two peat fields to the east and indicated that the possible trackway measured approximately 20m in length and 3m wide. It was 0.15m below the surface and was oriented east–west. The possible trackway appeared to be constructed of brushwood and roundwood laid on top of each other in opposite directions. The lower layer was laid in a north–south direction while the upper layer was oriented east–west. Within the test slots it was possible to identify several worked ends, most with multiple faceted chisel points.
Site No.: LF-Derrycolumb-03
On 29 November 2021 a worked wooden post was recovered during cell construction in the north-east of the bog (Derrymany townland, ITM 607654, 761962). The cell and the neighbouring cells along with the adjoining peat fields and drains were all inspected with no additional archaeological material identified. The cell from which the post was recovered lies c.75m north-north-west of the site of a class 3 togher (LF022-06003). The wooden post, possibly of oak, measured 110mm in diameter and 440mm long. It had a pencil point, with 20 facets on three sides with the fourth side being damaged. The point was compressed, probably from when it was driven into the ground.
Site No.: LF-Derrycolumb-04
The roundwood platform was located c.287m north-east of LF-Derrycolumb-02 in the west of Derrycolumb Bog (ITM 606894, 760505). It was also located approximately 317m west-south-west of a similar platform (LF022-180) consisting of five roundwoods.
The platform measured 1.9m in length and 0.9m wide and consisted of five roundwoods (diameter 0.08m max and 1.15m long) laid parallel to each other and orientated north-east/south-west. A single large roundwood (diameter 0.1m and 0.3m long) orientated east–west and a long single brushwood (diameter 0.3m and 0.9m long) orientated north-north-west/south-south-east was evident under the five roundwoods. No tool marks were visible on the exposed parts of the wood.
Archaeological Management Solutions Ltd., Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare, V15 C780
