Furnace in Ballydowny

Discovered during archaeological excavations in advance of the construction of a housing development in 2002 (Kiely 2004c, 218-9). A burnt pit or furnace (0.65m x 1.17m; D 0.18m) contained the base of a shaft furnace. A calibrated radiocarbon date from the medieval period (AD 1270-1390) was obtained from one of the fills of the pit. Fragments of charcoal were also recovered from some of the fills. A linear feature was situated directly north-east of the pit and both it and the pit cut a U-shaped NE-SW fosse (5.8m x 1.4m; D 0.44m). Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork. Date of upload: 31 January 2011