2002:1432 - BONESTOWN (BGE 1a/18/2), Meath

This site at Bonestown, Dunshaughlin, was identified after grading; initial stripping had not revealed any evidence of it. This site was c. 140m upslope from and west of BGE 1A/18/1 (No. Ad17, Excavations 2002 02E0194). The slope rises gradually to the west, cresting on the field fence to the west. Land use is arable, and the land affords good views to the north, east and south.

The site was oriented north–south across the wayleave. The features, contained in an area 2.2m long and 0.6m in maximum width, consisted of two subcircular rings of burnt and oxidised clay (F4 and F5) and were consistent with a cereal-drying kiln. As with BGE 1A/18/1, there was no surviving evidence of a flue connecting the two pits, as would be expected with a kiln; it remains for environmental analysis to verify this interpretation. As both sites were within the same agricultural area, it is quite possible that such truncation took place. Both features were cut into the natural.

F4 was a circular pit, with a concave profile and gradually sloping sides opening onto a shallow, concave base. It was 0.66m in diameter and 0.1m deep and contained two fills. At the base was a mid- to dark pink/red clay. It did not form a lining to the pit but a distinct layer within its profile. This suggests that the pit may be a small hearth, as opposed to part of a kiln.

A hard, light to mid-brown clay, retaining slight moisture content, partially sealed the basal fill. It was concentrated in the north-western part of F4, effectively sealing about two-thirds of the primary fill.

F5 was a subcircular pit 0.9m south of F4. It was 0.6m long and 0.5m wide and survived to a maximum depth of 0.05m. The pit had a gradual concave profile with a shallow, concave base. It had a single fill, identical to the primary fill of F4, mid- to dark pink/red clay, indicating in situ burning. The material was hard but slightly moist.

The similarity of the fills in F4 and F5 may suggest contemporaneous use, which might support the interpretation that this site is a severely truncated kiln.

One would expect a kiln to leave more substantial remains, which implies severe truncation through ploughing in this field. The condition of the site may also have been exacerbated by water running off the slope.

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