Kiln — corn-drying in Powerstown East

Uncovered during archaeological excavations (04E0392; 04E1263) in 2004 in advance of an extension to Kilcarrig Quarry (McLoughlin 2004). Described by McLoughlin (2007, 226) as a corn-drying kiln, which consisted of a stone-lined regular feature (L 2.05m; max. Wth 1.1m; D 1.29m) with a shallow, narrow irregular cut extending eastwards and a narrow, shallow stone-lined flue-like feature joining the two other elements. The upper fills of the kiln contained extensive evidence for burning, including ash, charcoal and burnt clay (ibid. 227). The main fill of the feature (comprising c. 0.6m of the total depth) comprised a mottled silty clay and contained many charcoal pieces (ibid.). The lower, earliest, fill of the feature contained extensive evidence for burning, with charcoal and burnt clay represented, as well as a plank and two pieces of slag, which were provisionally interpreted as iron slag (ibid.). Two possible post-holes were identified in the eastern portion of the feature (ibid.). The entire feature contained charcoal and animal bone (ibid.). An enclosure (KK025-011----) is located c. 30m to the N. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 28 February 2022