Kiln — corn-drying in Bray

This site, which both Henry and Mitchell identified as a corn-drying kiln (1957, 94; 1989, 46), is located on the S slopes of Bray Head, Valencia Island. A group of well-preserved rectangular huts are located c. 170m to W (KE087-021----, KE087-022----, KE087-023002-, KE087-024---- and KE087-031----) and a series of broad cultivation ridges occur in the immediate vicinity of the site. The present remains consist of a rectangular block of drystone masonry, with a circular bowl and traces of a flue, and two short stretches of drystone walling. The rectangular structure is well-defined at S and E, where it measures 4.1m and 1.95m long respectively. It survives up to 1.1m high above ground level at S, and consists of a rubble and earth core faced by a basal row of orthostats overlain by drystone masonry. Only a few protruding stones are visible at W, while its N side is obscured by hill-washed material. Adjacent to its E side is a 1m wide space, faced with drystone masonry, cut into the sloping ground surface. A double row of orthostats, occurring 1.5m to S of the structure, extends for a length of 2.2m. Henry noted that this and the stretch of walling at E were connected to the rectangular block by a series of horizontally disposed slabs (1957, 94). These slabs are no longer evident. The bowl of the kiln occurs at the W end of the structure. Measuring 1.05m in diameter at its mouth, it is infilled with debris to within .8m of its top. There are remnants of a flue below this in the S face of the structure. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 1457. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 1 August 2013