County: Limerick Site name: GORTEEN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 21:17 (adjacent to) Licence number: 97E0230 ext.
Author: Ciara MacManus, c/o ADS Ltd.
Site type: Kiln - corn-drying
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 550025m, N 648034m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.581296, -8.737397
Further archaeological investigations were undertaken around the area of monument AR2, a moated site (SMR 21:17) in Gorteen townland, Co. Limerick, during May 1999. This work was carried out during construction of the N20/N21 Road Improvement Scheme, in addition to the work carried out on the monument from November 1998 to January 1999 (Excavations 1998, 132-3). This further monitoring of topsoil-stripping revealed the existence of what may be a corn-drying kiln, c. 20m to the north of the moated site.
The site first appeared as two large spreads of black, charcoal-rich material. Excavation of these spreads revealed that those within the northern portion of the site overlay the remains of the kiln, which had survived only to ground level. The cut of the kiln was orientated west-east, was 3.5m long and varied from 1.28m to 1.9m wide. The western half of the cut was more bulbous than the eastern, which was elongated, giving it an hourglass shape. The base of the pit was somewhat undulating, although within the more circular, eastern end the base was more bowl-shaped.
Roughly hewn blocks of limestone lined the sides of the kiln, forming the foundations for the main structure. The stones survived as two courses along the eastern half of the pit sides, as well as along the southern edge of the pit. The bulbous, eastern end of the pit and the more elongated, western end of the pit were divided in section by a column of loosely stacked stones. The fill of the pit contained charcoal-rich deposits and stone rubble collapsed from the upper half of the structure.
Approximately 2.3m south of the kiln another large spread of material was uncovered. This spread was roughly 4.5m long and 2.5m wide and consisted of charcoal-rich material. Investigation of the spread suggested that this was the remains of dump material from the kiln.
Although no recognisable grain was recovered from the deposits, the kiln was probably used for drying corn, as it is similar in shape and construction to those previously excavated. Although no dating material was recovered from the site, the kiln's proximity to the moated site and its similarity to other kilns of medieval date give it some link to the enclosure.
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