Road — class 1 togher in Clonad (phillipstown Lower By.),rathfeston

The site (L 264.32m min.; Wth 3.2m min.; D 0.3m min.) is orientated NE-SW consisting of up to three layers. It was evident at seven sightings and occurs at varying depths beneath the field surface. At the primary sighting it consists of three layers. The basal layer consists of transverse brushwood and roundwoods above which lies a layer of longitudinal roundwoods. The uppermost layer consists of transverse roundwoods and timbers with occasional irregularly laid brushwood. Some of the timbers in this layer contain mortices, one of which was secured with a peg. Overall, timbers comprise the main construction element of the site with pegs present at four sightings. The condition of the site varies along its length with field surface sightings suffering the worst machine damage. The site lies within well-humified Sphagnum peat containing Eriophorum and ericaceous remains. The site has produced a dendrochronological date of 926±9 BC (Q10134). This site lies 3m N of SMR OF018-102----. Compiled by: Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (University College Dublin). OF-CL00004 was identified by the Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (UCD) following their 2001 survey as a primary togher orientated from north-east to south-west across the bog; it was recorded at seven sightings at various depths below the field surface. The Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (UCD) described this site as generally being composed of two to three layers consisting of brushwood, roundwood and timbers, with timbers being the main construction element overall (Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (UCD) 2002). Three cuttings were excavated under licence no. 04E0724 along the length of this site; all measured 6m by 4m. The remains of this trackway in Cutting 1, and those recorded by the Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (UCD), consisted of a 3.5mwide transverse plank trackway. The remains in Cuttings 2 and 3 were those of a single plank trackway. The structure was orientated from north-north-east to south-south-west across a narrow stretch of bog between two areas of dry land. It is possible that in Cutting 1 the remains consisted of a single plank trackway with a platform incorporated into it. Research is ongoing and it is hoped that parallels for this kind of structure can be found. The dating evidence will aid in its interpretation. Reference Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (UCD) 2002 Archaeological survey report: Clonad Bog, Co. Offaly. Unpublished report commissioned by Duchas, the Heritage Service. Eoin Corcoran, Archaeological Development Services Ltd, Windsor House, 11 Fairview Strand, Dublin 3. Date of revision: 23 April 2009