Going Over the Same Old Ground? Archaeological Re-survey of a Raised Mire at Kinnegad, Co. Meath, Ireland: Implications for the Accurate Identification of Archaeological Sites

Abstract

ABSTRACTLate in 2012 the remains of an early Iron Age body body, known as Moydrum Man, were recovered from an industrial raised bog at Kinnegad, Co. Meath. The recovery of human remains prompted repeat survey of the bog which was known to contain 21 archaeological sites dating from the Bronze Age. The 2013 survey identified 56 archaeological sites, almost tripling the number of sites already known. This contrasts with repeat surveys of other bogs which have typically produced lower sites numbers and reduced distributions. This result means the outcomes of older and more recent re-surveys must be regarded critically as the Kinnegad survey shows the continued potential of industrial peatlands to deliver new sites in significant numbers. This paper reviews the results from Kinnegad and other repeat surveys and considers the implications for the reliable and accurate identification of sites in future surveys.