Kiln

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a slight rise in a generally level landscape. Archaeological testing (04E0487) by R. O’Hara on the link-road (R157) for Dunboyne set aside this area for resolution as Dunboyne 4 (excavations. ie 2004:1229). Archaeological excavation (E003024) by R. Elliott (excavations.ie 2004:1554) recorded elements of the field system (ME050-030----) as well as this structure that is interpreted as a kiln and the prehistoric structure (ME050-062001-). This consists of a large sub-oval pit (max. dims 3.35m N-S; 1.3m E-W; D 0.43m) with a clay lining. It has two bowls with a connecting flue but many of the fills contained burnt stone. Some uncharred grain was recovered, but a sample of hazel charcoal from a basal fill yielded a C14 determination of 2117-1779 cal. BC. This sample must have been contaminated somehow. A subrectangular cut (dims 1.9m x 1.35m; D 0.17m) for a bellows was connected to the S bowl by a narrow channel, but much of the bellows pit was damaged by a large modern quarry to its S. (Elliott 2008, 3-4)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 3 November 2021

References

Elliott, R. 2008 M3 Clonee - North of Kells, Contract 1 Clonee – Dunshaughlin. Final Report on the Archaeological Excavation of Dunboyne 4, Co. Meath. Licence: E003024. Unpublished report, Archaeological Consultancy Services