Retracing the steps of our Ancestors

In 2005 a local man made a remarkable discovery at Mayne Bog, near the village of Coole, County Westmeath. When out walking he found the remains of an ancient trackway or ‘tochair’, as it’s known in Irish. Following several excavations it was revealed that it dated from the late Bronze Age, about 3000 years ago.

Spanning approximately 800m with an average width of almost 5m, the Mayne Bog trackway is highly significant in archaeological terms.

Building a trackway like this would have been a huge undertaking, requiring many skilled craftsmen like metalworkers, toolmakers, and carpenters. It is estimated that over 100 mature oak trees were required to construct it. As well as the physical labour involved in a project of this scale, managing a large community of workers was no small task either.

Unlike other trackways, there is little evidence of seasonal repairs or rebuilding at Mayne Bog. Therefore, it is believed the trackway served its purpose shortly after it was constructed. In common with many other trackways, there are more questions than answers about its function. Why was it built in the first instance? Was it built as a powerful status symbol or to serve a short-term specific need? Perhaps it was built as a territorial boundary. Or was it part of a wider network of routeways? Whatever the reason, we can only speculate today.

By their nature, peatland archaeological sites are best preserved by being left within their natural environment. Digital re-creations and other initiatives can help foster an awareness of Mayne Bog’s national significance. The unresolved theories about why the trackway came to be built only serve to pique our imagination.