Kiln — corn-drying in Kilmainham (kells Upper By., Teltown Par.)

The later part of the Iron Age (800 BC- 500 AD) and the early part of Early Medieval Period (500-1100 AD) are represented by a rectangular enclosure, two inhumations, and some of the cereal drying kilns. Thirteen cereal-drying kilns were dispersed about the excavated area, and while three of them proved to be Iron Age in date most had a confined period of use at the start of the early medieval period, although one was thirteenth century in date. The presence of so many cereal-drying kilns at this and adjacent excavated areas suggests that a watermill would be close by but no evidence of one has come to light. Four of the kilns are situated on top of the ridge, but there was a group of five placed relatively close together on the low ground at the E side of the spur. They are usually of the figure-of-eight form aligned N-S or NNW-SSE with the firing chamber at the N end but one keyhole kiln (dims 1.3m x 0.8m; D 0.41m), positioned just N of Ditch A was aligned WSW-ENE parallel with the Iron Age ditch. It had an oxidized base and charcoal-rich lenses from its use, but very little cereal was recovered. However, a charred barley grain provided a C14 date of 27-127 cal. AD (UBA 12927). A figure-of-eight kiln (dims 1.75m x 0.8m; D 0.28m) isolated at the N tip of the spur had plentiful evidence of working with barley, oats and wheat in that descending order, and returned a C14 date of 269-432 cal. AD (UBA 12926) from a charred barley grain. (Walsh 2011, vol. 1, 123-5) Another kiln (dims 2.35m x 1.25m; D 0.6m), the first of five in a concentrated area (dims c. 15m E-W; c. 10m N-S) on the low ground on the E side of the spur, had stone from the superstructure in its fill, and was used for barley, wheat, and oats. Its firing chamber was at S, and a charred barley grain returned a date of 235-376 cal. AD (UBA 12929). The other four kilns were similar in dimension (dims 2.15m x 0.95m; D 0.25m to 2.4m x 1.2m; D 0.36m) and cereal grains were recovered from them in the descending frequency of barley, oats and wheat. They also returned similar C14 dates within the range 422-542 cal. AD, and burnt animal bone, of which sheep / goat is generally the only species recognized, is present in these and the remainder of the kilns. (Walsh 2011, vol. 1, 124-31) A kiln (dims 2.49m x 1.14m; D 0.83m) with the fire-bowl at the S end was located at the crest of the W-facing slope at the S end of the spur. It was only used once and provided only small amounts of barley and wheat, but the burnt bones of sheep/goat and other unidentified species were also present. A barley grain yielded a radiocarbon determination of 412-535 cal. AD (UBA 12931). Another kiln (dims (2.17m x 1.3m; D 0.4m) was at the crest of the E-facing slope of the spur at the S end. Cereal grains were scarce but some burnt bone was also present, and a barley grain returned a date of 542-637 cal. AD (UBA 15485). A kiln (dims 2.35m x 1.04m; D 0.3m) on the ridge between the pond and the Early Bronze Age platform (ME017-087012-) returned a date of 427-538 cal. AD (UBA 12930) while another (dims 2.22m x 1.16m; D 0.56m), just 8m to the N yielded a date of 425-562 cal. AD (UBA 15486). Two pits (dims 0.85m x 0.8m; D 0.1: 1.15m x 0.6m; D 0.1m), just off the W-facing crest of the W knoll, connected by a channel and with charcoal-rich fills although without evidence of in situ burning probably constitute a kiln as it had a large quantity of barley and small quantities of oats and wheat. It also had burnt bone, and a charred barley grain provided a date of 425-537 cal. AD (UBA 12910). The final kiln (dims 5.2m ENW-WSW; 1.4m N-S; D 0.45m) was cut into a hollow on the line of the Iron Age ditch (A). It had a stone lining and its usage was dominated by rye and oats with very little wheat. A rye grain provided a C14 date of 1208-1271 cal. AD (UBA 15467) and this proved to be the last use of a cereal-drying kiln within the excavated area. (Walsh 2011, vol. 1, 126, 129, 132-3, 143, 147-8; Walsh 2012 304-05) See the attached adapted plans from Walsh 2011 (figs 6, 7) ME017-087_1 Site plan; ME017-087_2 Contour plan; ME017-087_7 Locations; Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 22 March 2022