County: Meath Site name: KILSHARVAN 2, Kilsharvan
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0177
Author: Ian Russell, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Kiln
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 669871m, N 810797m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.673397, -6.350355
The site was exposed at chainage 20085, in the eastern portion of the proposed motorway in the townland of Kilsharvan, during monitoring of topsoil-stripping during groundworks associated with the construction of Contract 7 of the Northern Motorway Project.
The possible kiln was subcircular in shape with a subrectangular annexe running eastwards from it which may have formed a flue or held a tuyère. The possible kiln contained gradually sloped sides extending to a rounded base; it measured 1.32m in length, 0.8m in width and extended to a depth of 0.24m. The eastern flue was roughly V-shaped in profile and measured 0.56m in length, 0.2m in width and extended to a depth of 0.04m. Both had been filled with a brown silty clay that contained a moderate number of fragments of oxidised clay, especially at the surface, and occasional charcoal flecks and small angular stones, some heat-shattered. A modern stone-filled field drain was also exposed a short distance to the south. No further archaeological features or deposits were exposed and no finds were recovered.
The possible kiln is likely to have been used for either pottery manufacture or metal-working, although no finds were recovered from the fill. The subrectangular annexe to the east is likely to have been a flue and less likely to have contained a tuyère, as a tuyère, to have been effective at heating the fire, would have to blow air at the base of the fire, whereas the annexe is clearly at the top. It is also highly likely that the site is associated with the isolated pit at Kilsharvan 3 (No. 988, Excavations 2001, 01E0178) to the south, and it is very similar to the possible kiln/furnace at Kilsharvan 1 (No. 986, Excavations 2001, 01E0176), which was dated to the early Bronze Age. It also possible that the site is related to the activity at the possible settlement/ritual site at Kilsharvan 5 (No. 990, Excavations 2001, 01E0180) which was dated to the early–late Bronze Age, and where a bifacial spear mould was recovered.
15 Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth
