Trackways in Ireland

TRACKWAYS
Valentia Island Tetrapod Trackway, County Kerry
A series of the footprints of a tetrapod - a large amphibian animal that walked on soft sediment 385 million years ago. A unique record of the transition of life from the sea to land.
Valentia Island, Tetrapod Trackway, County Kerry
First major modern find was Corlea in Co. Longford
This was dated by dendrochronology to 148 BC
Corlea
Excavated by Prof. Barry Raftery from UCD
This led to some international debate over the lack of research in Irelands bogs.
Trackways in Bogs
Further examination of the Corlea part of the Mountdillon Bogs revealed further sites
Irish Archaeological Wetland Unit (IAWU)
IAWU was set up in UCD in the early 1990s and a programme of bog surveys was started.
Corlea Visitor Centre
A portion of the Corlea trackway was preserved and put on display in a visitor centre in the bog.
Function?
Their function isn’t always as obvious as we would expect.
Some trackways bridge a chain of bogs.
Some are designed to use part of the bog.
Cooleeny, Site 31, Co. Tipperary
Dated to c. 620 BC, crosses bog.
Cooleeny, Site 31, Co. Tipperary
Cooleeny, Site 31, Co. Tipperary
Killoran, Site 18, Co. Tipperary
Dates to c. 1450 BC – crosses bog from east to west.
Killoran, Site 18, Co. Tipperary
Trackways that don’t cross a bog…
Some trackways are built to access the resources available in bogs (trees, bushes, water courses, wild-life).
Some structures are built as dry islands for various uses.
Trackways that don’t cross a bog…
Derryfadda, Co. Tipperary
Short trackway
Trackways that don’t cross a bog…
Derryfadda, Site 23, Co. Tipperary
Short trackway made of planks
Dated to 1590 BC
Trackways that don’t cross a bog…
Cooleeny, Site 306, Co. Tipperary
Short trackway using mixture of brushwood and roundwood (but no planks)
Trackways that don’t cross a bog…
Killoran Site 315, Co. Tipperary
Short trackway incorporating panels of woven wood (hurdles)
Platforms in bogs
Similar to crannogs and other artificial islands but smaller and not permanently occupied.
Post Rows
Sometimes a long line of posts are recorded.
These are often marking off areas of very wet bog.
Killoran Site 54, Co. Tipperary.
Post Row
Derryfadda 209, Co. Tipperary.
Marks off area of very wet bog.
Dates to Late Bronze Age
Trackways have been found dating to all periods
Fenor Bog, Co. Waterford
Building a Trackway