Road

This site is located in the industrial peatlands of Toar Bog. It was recorded in the 2013 Re-assessment Peatland Survey as a possible togher located on the field surface near the drain edge, and composed of closely packed roundwood and brushwood elements (Whitaker 2014). A single cutting was opened and excavated under licence 14E0283. A fragment of alder was chosen for AMS dating and returned a result of cal. AD 1291–1397 (UBA 26611). The site was situated in a fibrous, moderately humified Sphagnum peat with Eriophorum, Calluna and herbaceous root inclusions. The excavated cutting contained closely placed E-W orientated alder, ash, birch, hazel and willow roundwood and brushwood delineated by N-S orientated brushwood, contained within an area measuring 2.85m x 2.4m in size. The elements (L0.18-1.8m, Diam. 0.01-0.06m) were machine damaged and fractured along their lengths. Several of the elements had evidence of woodworking, in the form of chisel and wedge point ends with flat facets. Some N-S oriented brushwood were located to the west of the main structure, 0-0.15m below the surface, contained in an area measuring 2.4 x 1.1m. These were composed of regularly shaped rods (max. L2.3m, Diam. 0.03-0.06m). While they may have been related to the main structure, they appear to have had a separate function. Compiled by: Jane Whitaker/Femke Vleeshouwer Date of upload: 02/03/2020