Road — class 2 togher in Rathdrum

The site (L 213.11m; Wth 1.7m; D 0.46m min.) is orientated NE-SW and consists of a narrow plank walkway with planks laid both transversely and longitudinally and one peg evident. Toward the NE extent the site consists of a transverse roundwood (diam. 0.13m), with two overlying longitudinal planks (Wth 0.41m max.; D 0.06m). Where examined, the wood is in a very poor condition, particularly on its upper surfaces. In this area the site lies at the boundary of two distinct peat strata. The lower peat stratum is well-humified Sphagnum peat with Eriophorum and the upper stratum is poorly humified Sphagnum peat with Eriophorum. A radially split plank, from a central location in the site, was dendrochronologically dated to AD 547±9 or later (Q10137). A large number of sites lie within a 5m of this site, particularly at the SW end. Compiled by: Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (University College Dublin). Date of upload: 23 May 2011 The site was surveyed by the Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (UCD) in July 2001 and identified as a secondary togher running north-east/south-west for 213m (OF-RDM0047). This site could only be traced part of the way across the bog and was not found on the north-eastern side of the bog. Dendro-dating of wood from the site returned a date of AD 547±9 or later. Three cuttings were excavated under licence no. 05E0557 along the length of this trackway, which was also recorded at a further seven sightings. This single-plank trackway consisted typically of a plank longitudinal, up to 5.85m long and up to 0.2m wide, resting at either end on a split roundwood transverse, with evidence of central pegs. While the longitudinal was of oak in one cutting, in the others it appeared to be of birch. This trackway appears to be largely contemporary with OF-RDM0009 (see No. 1302 above), which runs parallel to it a few metres to the south-west. It was in a generally poor condition and the possibly birch longitudinals suggests that, like OF-RDM0009, it was also constructed from readily available timber. One of the puzzling aspects of this site was why it was so close in date to OF-RDM0009 and appeared to end in the middle of the bog. Preliminary results from plant macrofossil analysis suggest that this part of the bog was extremely wet at the time and it may be that the attempt to build this trackway was abandoned in favour of OF-RDM0009. Sinclair Turrell, ADS Ltd, Windsor House, 11 Fairview Strand, Fairview, Dublin 3. Date of Revision : 24 April 2009