Structure - peatland, Tomisky, Co. Longford

The deposit, aligned north to south, consisted of brushwood, occasional roundwood, twigs, and four pieces of split timber, layered up to six pieces deep in what excavators described as a very loose, irregular configuration. The wood was in poor condition by the time it was examined, but clear signs of working were still visible on several of the pieces, meaning at least some of the timber had been shaped or cut before it was laid down.

Peatlands are remarkable preservers of organic material. The waterlogged, acidic environment slows decay dramatically, which is why wood that might otherwise vanish within decades can survive for centuries or longer. The species identified at this Tomisky site, ash, birch, and alder, are all native Irish trees with long histories of practical use. Alder in particular is well known for its durability in wet conditions, and was commonly selected for structural purposes near water or boggy ground. Whether this deposit represents a trackway, a working platform, or something more difficult to categorise is not certain. A second comparable structure was recorded just 3.4 metres to the north-east, which suggests this was not an isolated or accidental accumulation of material but part of something more deliberate, even if its exact function remains open to interpretation.