Kiln in Newcastle (moyfenrath Lower By.)

Situated on an undulating low-lying landscape. Archaeological testing in advance of the M4 Kinnegad to Kilcock motorway identified a sub-surface archaeological feature. This was set aside for resolution as a part of Newcastlle 2, which was fully resolved (02E1093) in August 2002. This is a subrectangular cut (dims 3.7m E-W; 1.6m N-S; max. D 0.26m) in the subsoil filled with a partially oxidized base and a yellow/brown silty clay that was largely redeposited natural with some oxidization. There were four unburnt stake holes in the central area and a dense deposit of charcoal at the E end. This was separated by a mixed layer of brown clay and charcoal from another dense charcoal deposit which is interpreted as the roof of the fire-pit of a kiln. It produced a C14 date of Cal. AD 1050-1270. A nearly hearth produced a C14 date of Cal. AD 980-1170. The furnace bottom (ME048-033----) is c. 80m to the E. (O’Hara 2003; 2004; 2008) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 14 August 2019 O’Hara, R. 2003 Final Report on Archaeological Excavation at Newcastle 2, County Meath. Licence: 02E1093. Unpublished report, ACS O’Hara, R. 2004 Newcastle 2. Bowl furnace, corn dryer (?) and hearths. In I. Bennett (ed.) Excavations 2002: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 426-7, No. 1499. Bray, Wordwell O’Hara 2008 in Carlin, N., Clarke, L. and F. Walsh 2008 (eds) The Archaeology of Life and Death in the Boyne Floodplain, vol. 2, Newcastle 2. National Roads Authority Scheme Monographs 2, Dublin