Kiln — corn-drying in Johnstown (moyfenrath Lower By., Rathcore Par.)

Archaeological excavation (02E0462) of the enclosure (ME048-031001-) also recorded six corn-drying kilns in the vicinity, but none were within it. They were of the keyhole type (L 1.56-3.1m) with deeper bowls at one end. All were cut into the natural boulder clay and none was stone-lined. However, the clay forming the bases was oxidized, especially at the bowls. Each was probably only used for one episode of cereal-drying. Oats dominated the carbonised seed samples taken from the kilns, but barley was dominant at two kilns and legumes, probably peas, were found throughout. A single charcoal sample from a kiln c. 60m NW of the enclosure produced a date of Cal AD 570-770. The almost complete remains of the upper stone of a disc quern was found in the topsoil, and the fragment of another was found in a pit. (Clarke and Carlin 2008, 72, 115-6; Clarke 2008, 253, 295-8) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 14 August, 2019