The midlands bogs are continuing to deliver up their treasures as Bord na Mona development work intensifies in preparation for the opening of the new peat-powered station in Edenderry.
Later today, in a blanket bog outside Tyrrellspass, archaeologists will raise from the peat an ornate casket uncovered about 1.5 metres down in the bog during drainage works.
According to Conor McDermott, the leader of a team of international archaeologists from the Irish Archaeological Wetlands Unit, the discovery was made last Friday.
He said two members of the team, Dr Jill Plunkett and Mr John Powderly, were examining drains when they spotted the casket protruding out from the side of the drain.
"We are still unsure what it is but it could be a cauldron or trough for holding water or for some other purpose. We are sure of only a few things," he said.
"It is not made from either oak or ash and there is very fine carving on it. It was hollowed out from a large tree and there are handles at the end," he said.
"The walls are very thin and they are scorched . . . by fire. It is a very fine object and we know from the marks that it comes from the Iron Age because of the tool marks on it," he said.
He said raising the object had been delayed by the discovery of what he called a "withy" rope - a triple-stranded rope made of fibres from the area.
"We are guessing at this stage that it could be as early as from the second century AD but it could be as late as medieval. We are uncertain about that," he said.
He said wooden vessels from this period and in this condition were very rare and when examined it would add greatly to the body of knowledge.
"We are not sure about the burn marks on the side of the object but they could have been caused by hot rocks being dropped into it to heat water," he said.
He said that the finding of the casket had sparked off a lot of speculation in the team carrying out the work for Duchas.
The vessel is just one of 400 objects or features discovered at Toar bog, 1.5 miles from Tyrrellspass, on the Offaly/Westmeath border.
Last week, the team discovered a hoard of bog butter in a wicker container which has been taken away for examination by the National Museum.