Kiln — corn-drying in Farrankelly

Cereal-drying kiln in area 3A was excavated in 2020 under licence 17E0292 by Muireann Ní Cheallacháin for IAC Archaeology during construction phase of residential development by Cairn Homes PLC. Excavation was carried out in Area 3A following the identification of crop marks within the southwest corner of the proposed development a geophysical survey was carried out by Joanna Leigh in 2015 (Licence 15R0124). Detailed gradiometer survey in this area identified two clear circular ditch-type responses, correlating with the location of several curving crop marks, measuring c. 11.25m and 12.25m in diameter and several other responses of potential interest. The circular ditches appear to be contained within a larger ill-defined circular feature (possible enclosure). Following on from the geophysical survey, a programme of testing was undertaken in 2017 by Rob Lynch and Enda Lydon of IAC under licence no. 17E0292 (Lynch and Lydon 2017). Three areas of archaeology were identified in the testing assessment (Archaeological Areas 1–3). Monument 'was keyhole shaped in plan with the firing chamber located to the east at a lower level than the drying chamber at the west, and contained eight fills. The stratigraphy within the firing chamber indicated that the fire chamber was not cleaned out before the final use as there are two layers of in-situ oxidisation and associated charcoal present. The remnants of the last use of the kiln within the drying chamber consisted of a charcoal rich silt. The upper three fills were backfilled into the kiln after it went out of use and due to the presence of large stones, may be related to an above ground structure associated with the kiln' (Ní Cheallacháin and Spencer 2020, 34). Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 10 November 2020