Kiln in Raynestown

Situated on a natural gravel rise in a gently undulating landscape. Archaeological centre-line testing (04E0472) by E. Cotter (2004) at Testing Area 11 of Contract 1 prior to the construction of the M3 motorway identified a small enclosure (excavations.ie: 2004:1333) that proved to be a ring-ditch (ME044-071----) and was fully excavated (E003038) by S. D. Elder as Raynestown 1 (Elder et al. 2009) in July-September 2006 together with these nearby kilns and evidence of habitation (ME044-071002-) (excavations.ie 2006:1630). Located c. 40m SE-S of the double ring-ditch (ME044-071----) two features are thought to be kilns. A circular pit (diam. 2.5-2.6m; max. D 0.44m) had 22 fills consisting largely of sandy clays with decayed stone, charcoal flecks and burnt clay. It was cut by a possible hearth (dims 1.15m x 0.65m; D 0.19m) of reddish brown oxidised clay with charcoal flecks and burnt clay. Adjacent was a second cut (diam. 3.22m x 3.13m; max. D 0.4m) with 24 fills that had charcoal flecks and decayed stone throughout, and it was re-cut once (dims 0.81m x 0.6m; D 0.25m) with a fill of silty clay that had charcoal and iron flecks. A pit (dims 1.05m x 0.5m; D 0.32m) with similar fills also cut this feature. Five post-holes are associated with the kilns. About 10m SW of the kilns was further evidence of habitation (ME044-071002-). (Elder eat al. 2009, 12) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 13 December 2021