2002:0939 - KILRAINY, Kildare

During monitoring in April 2002, three features of potential significance were revealed. Excavation was subsequently undertaken from 19 to 23 April 2002. The features, initially believed to be corn-drying kilns, were situated on and around a low hillock with a maximum height of 82m OD, in the field north of Ballykane Hill.

F2 had an elongated, slightly figure-of-eight shape and measured 1.86m by 0.64m (maximum) by 0.34m deep. The cut had sharply sloping sides to a tapered base and was situated on the southern slope of the hillock at 81.91m OD. Two fills were identified: the upper fill was a fine, dark brown, silty clay of medium compaction with moderate inclusions of charcoal. The lower fill was a layer of dense charcoal with little soil inclusion, to a depth of 0.09m, lining the base of the cut. A stone, c. 0.3m in diameter, was set on top of the lower fill and protruded through the surface of the feature.

F4 was a subrectangular pit, measuring 2.64m by 1.24m by 0.26m deep, on the west-sloping side of the low hillock. The cut had gently sloping sides and a flat base that bore traces of in situ burning. Two fills were identified: a dark brown, silty clay of medium compaction with a high charcoal content, which partially overlay a dark brown, compact, gritty clay with frequent inclusions of charcoal.

F5 was sub-oval, measuring 1.24m by 1.08m, and was 0.08m deep, situated on the side of the hillock at 81.64m OD. The cut was bowl shaped, with gently sloping sides and traces of in situ burning. The fills consisted of an upper, dark brown, loose, crumbly clay with a high density of charcoal in the centre and a lower, light grey, loose clay and beige ash.

No flues were identified during the excavation, and, although the features are associated with in situ burning, because of their morphology and the lack of finds, they cannot ultimately be confirmed as corn-drying kilns. No artefacts were found during the excavation.

32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2