2004:0921 - POWERSTOWN EAST, Kilkenny

An excavation was conducted from 7 to 15 September 2004 of features identified during earlier monitoring of topsoil removal conducted by Catherine McLoughlin (No. 920, Excavations 2004, 04E0392). The site is contained within a square area measuring 15m by 15m.

Uncovered was a corn-drying kiln which comprised three elements: a western stone-lined regular cut, a shallow, narrow irregular cut extending eastwards and a narrow, shallow stone-lined flue-like feature joining the two other elements. The regular cut measured a maximum of 1.1m along the western limit of the feature and was 2.05m in length. The cut reached a maximum depth of 1.29m. The upper c. 0.5m of the cut was lined with stones forming several courses along the northern, western and southern edges (although a large portion of the southern edge had collapsed).

The feature narrowed to c. 0.75m along the eastern edge of this cut. No in situ evidence for stone lining was identified along the eastern edge of the cut. This cut contained several fills, which can be categorised into three groups. The upper fills contained extensive evidence for burning, including ash, charcoal and burnt clay. The main fill of the feature (filling c. 0.6m of the total depth) comprised a mottled silty clay and contained many charcoal pieces. The lower, earliest, fill of the feature again contained extensive evidence for burning, with charcoal and burnt clay represented. This lower fill contained a plank. The main fill of this portion of the feature contained two pieces of slag (provisionally interpreted as iron slag).

The eastern extent of the feature was shallow and irregular. Two possible post-holes have been identified in this portion of the feature. The entire feature contained charcoal and animal bone.

Two south-west/north-east aligned ditches were also recorded.

Glascarn, Ratoath, Co. Meath