Kiln - corn-drying

The National Monuments Service's description

Excavated in 1999 in advance of the development of an industrial and retail complex on Little Island in Cork harbour. A linear stone-lined feature (L 4.2m; Wth 1.18m; D. c. 0.27m) which was uncovered during the excavation was interpreted by the excavator (McCarthy 2004a, 60) as a probable kiln flue. The feature was divided internally by a row of stones, aligned E-W. The base and sides of the feature showed evidence of intense burning and it was filled with silt, heat-shattered stones and long stems of burnt wood. Two pits were recorded in the base of the feature, one at the W end and the other 1.6m to the E. The W pit was rectangular in plan with straight sides and was filled with silt, heat-shattered stones and charcoal. The smaller E pit (0.3m E-W; 0.29m N-S; D 0.11m) was roughly circular in plan filled with sand, pebbles and small stones. A similar feature (CO075-085----), an early medieval possible corn-drying kiln (CO075-084----) and a Bronze Age fulacht fia (CO075-082----) were also excavated in the immediate vicinity. (McCarthy 2000, 25; 2004a, 51-66)

The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009).

Date of upload: 22 December 2009