Kiln in Johnstown (ratoath By., Dunshaughlin Par.)

Situated on a slight S-facing slope. Archaeological centre-line testing (04E0476) by E. Cotter of Testing Area 15, Contract 1, prior to the construction of the M3 motorway (excavations.ie: 2004:1253) identified archaeological material that was completely excavated (E003043) by S. Elder as Johnstown 3 in January to March 2006 (excavations.ie 2006:1573) when this kiln and the pits and hearths (ME044-058002-) were recorded. The oval kiln (dims 2.75m E-W; 1.46m N-S; D 0.66m) had its flue (Wth 0.23m; D 0.19m; L c. 1m) at W and had 29 fills. It was cut by a N-S drain at E but the material was rich in charcoal and the sides and base consisted of oxidised clay and sandstone fragments. A sample of charred alder produced a C14 date of 2276-1980 cal. BC, placing it in the Early Bronze Age, but the material processed is not known. A channel (L c. 9m) curving W and N extended the flue further W, and it contained some burnt bone. Six post-holes, originally possibly eight, surround the kiln c. 1.7m from it (diam. c. 6m), and whitethorn charcoal from one of the post-holes produced a C14 date of 2190-1926 cal. BC. There was burnt animal bone in the same post-hole, while another had charred barley grains. (Elder and Ginn 2009) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload; 9 December 2021