2002:0179 - KILQUANE, Clare

The site is 10m from the bank of the River Shannon, on a level, flat plain below gentle rising ground to the north. It is lies on a sandy, low, gentle ridge running parallel to the river and is liable to annual flooding.

A subrectangular hearth or fire-pit was identified to the south-east of Kilquane church and graveyard. The feature was uncovered within the corridor of the Limerick Main Drainage Pipeline, and no other archaeological features were identified in its vicinity in spite of detailed examination. The pit measured 1.22m (east–west) by 0.8m and was 0.12m deep. The base and sides were lined with a thin layer of fire-reddened clay. This layer appeared to have been altered by the intense heat generated by burning at the site. A thin deposit of brown sandy silt (30%) containing a very large quantity of charcoal (70%) lay above the fire-reddened clay.

The pit was unusual, as it was unlikely to have functioned as a simple hearth. It was characterised by a number of unusual features, such as its definite rectangular shape and its clear stratigraphy of fill. The heat-shattered stones in the clay deposit overlying the burnt fill suggest that it may have been deliberately backfilled as part of the function of the feature. Few exact parallels exist for the feature, and its function is not known. It is possible that the fire-pit is the truncated remains of a kiln or furnace associated with the monastic site of St Cuanna (Kilquane church and graveyard) 100m to the north-east.

The samples from this possible furnace contained plant remains preserved by carbonisation. The carbonised seeds from the site were identified as weeds of the dock family. The charcoal was of good quality and was identified as predominantly oak. There was no evidence of slag in the sample.

2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin