Kiln — corn-drying in Ballynacarriga (imokilly By., Youghal Par.)

One of three corn-drying kilns (see CO067-087004-, CO067-087005-) uncovered in an early medieval enclosure (CO067-087----) during excavations in this area of the N25 Youghal Bypass. This well-preserved stone-lined kiln (L 6.6m NW-SE) comprised a bowl-shaped drying chamber at the NW end and a flue that extended to the SE. The drying chamber (diam. c. 2.4m; max. D 0.4m) was roughly circular in plan with steeply sloping sides and a generally flat base. The flue (max. Wth 1.2m; D 0.03-0.25m), which was dug into the downward incline of the slope, had steep vertical sides which became more gradual as it extended downslope. A lining of moderately compact, light brown, sandy silt occurred at the mouth of the flue at which point it significantly narrowed the width of the flue to 0.2m. Three courses of large flat stones (av. 0.4m x 0.2m x 0.09m) occurred along the edges of the chamber and were set either against the cut of the kiln or the silty lining. A thin layer of charcoal-rich dark-brown clay was found at the base of the chamber and extended the entire length of the flue. This kiln partially truncated an earlier corn-drying kiln (CO067-087005-) as well as part of the slot trench of an associated structure (CO067-087003-). The excavator (Noonan 2003e, 29) suggests that the latter structure may have been a windbreak of some kind. (Noonan 2003e, 29-30; Noonan et al. 2004) The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009