Weir — fish in River Fergus

Situated in the middle of the tidal Fergus Estuary, N of the archipelago of islands. Described by O’Sullivan et al. (2010) as follows: 'Boarland Rock 1 is a massive L-shaped structure, stretching 56m east-west and c. 100m north-south, the largest of the weirs in the Boarland Rock fishweir complex. The posts are typically protruding about 0.20m above the mud. The two lines of posts meet and form a funnel like end. The funnel is 4.5m long and is orientated S-E-N-W. It is made of two parallel rows, running c. 0.7m apart, of widely spaced uprights (spacing 0.1m). At the southernmost end of the funnel there is a cluster of seven uprights which possibly provided support for the baskets. Dowel holes were noted in a couple of the uprights. A wooden rope (withy) is twisted around two uprights in the funnel. Such ropes were probably used throughout the weir to secure the post and wattle build. Horizontal posts are scattered around the funnel. A possible rebuilt phase of the funnel can be seen on the southwest side where two lines of posts are visible. The second (outer) line of posts seems to join with the line of posts that runs along the inner side the main western fence, while the inner row of posts in the funnel joins up with the better preserved main (outer) line of the fence. The outer fence may have been intended to withstand stronger currents and wave action. There is clear evidence for several phases of re-building and repair. Several postholes have been discovered, indicating the reuse of posts on site. For the most part the structure consisted of 2 to 4 rows of uprights. However, at some points along the eastern line of the structure 5 or 6 rows of uprights were apparent. Posts, driven in at a 20 degree diagonal were numerous among the uprights. Presumably these were for adding extra strength to the fence. It is conceivable that such fences were replaced every 10 years, suggesting possibly generations of reuse and activity on these sites. Two large horizontal post-and-wattle panels were found near the funnel end of the construction. These are possibly fallen vertical fence elements or they may have been a type of platform or trackway that prevented erosion and under-cutting of the fences themselves. The largest of these panels was c. 2m in height by c. 5m in length. There is a possible relationship between Boarland Rock 1 and Boarland Rock 13 (a smaller fence to the north of Boarland Rock 1) but this needs investigation. A sample of wood from Boarland Rock 1 fishweir has produced a calibrated radiocarbon date of AD 1414-1444 (485-/-20 BP). The Boarland Rock fishweir complex is eroding out of the mud. Several new metres of the western fence have been exposed on its western end (between Summer 2009 and Summer 2010). The funnel end of the weir is now sitting on a pedestal of mud, which will eventually be washed away by the tides. Several previously undocumented post and wattle fences were observed lying horizontal in the mud, c. 5m south of the weir. Wattle panels visible in other years have disappeared while nearly all of the horizontal woods around the funnel end have been eroded away. The wattle panels observed at the last site visit are of much lighted construction than those that were visible in the preceding years. At 13m from the end of the western fence, a small basket, 0.7m in diameter, was located on the inside of the fence (N52 44.755 W8 59.8330). It was made from narrow rods and sails. The sails appeared to be in groups of 3-4. The basket has been radiocarbon dated to Cal. AD 1419-1447.' (O'Sullivan et al. 2010, 41-5; Appendix 1, 33-5, Boarland Rock 1, also Appendix 2) Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 4 September 2019