2005:754 - GRANGEBEG, Kildare

Monitoring of topsoil-stripping in advance of construction was requested as a planning condition for construction of residential blocks and a community centre for the Camphill community at Grangebeg, Co. Kildare, due to the proposed development’s location in a field adjacent to a ringfort. Monitoring from 3 to 10 August revealed a number of features of archaeological interest.

A small hearth of unknown date with some rake-out to its north indicating multiple use and a small pit containing two distinct layers but nothing diagnostic were identified. Both these features lay to the north of the area stripped.

To the south-east of the main area stripped, a ditch, a kiln and a possible slot-trench were identified; the kiln appeared to be stone-lined and roughly a figure-of-eight shape; a number of post-holes surrounding the western bowl were also noted. A round-bottomed ditch running east-(north-)west was identified to the immediate north of the kiln and is possibly contemporary with it. A section was excavated through this ditch; no finds were retrieved. The possible slot-trench is located immediately south of the kiln and runs east–west. The kilns, ditch and possible slot-trench were all recorded and fenced off with a 10m buffer zone to protect the archaeology during ongoing works. The proposed structures’ location in relation to the archaeological features meant it was not possible to preserve the kiln and ditch in situ, as they lay directly in front of one of the building’s entrances. Because of the nature of the site, moving this building was not an option, therefore full excavation was the only course of action left.

Further monitoring, from 15 to 23 August, of the access road/driveway into the development uncovered two further archaeological features: a pit and the edge of another possible kiln. Both were investigated, the pit was roughly circular in plan and contained two fills, a silty clay upper layer that probably washed in after use and a charcoal-rich primary layer that was found to contain pottery. The pottery has been tentively identified as Leinster cooking ware but is yet to be confirmed. The edge of what may be a kiln was uncovered further south of the pit, again on the route of the access road; it was investigated and found to contain several layers of alternating fire-reddened soil and charcoal-rich deposits. It measured 1.6m north–south and only 0.55m east–west was exposed. The road was rerouted slightly, further east, to ensure that the unexposed remainder of this feature was preserved in situ.

Excavations at the previously identified kiln and ditch were undertaken from 24 October to 4 November 2005. A stone-lined keyhole-shaped kiln was fully excavated; it was aligned east–west, with the drying bowl to the west; it measured 3.6m east–west by 1.9m (max.), with the flue 0.6m wide by 1.9 long. The drying bowl had three sizable internal post-holes in each of the north-west and south-west corners and a single post-hole to the north-east, with a stake-hole north-west of it, probably for support. To the south-east three other large post-holes were situated without the main cut; they may have supported a drying platform or a roof of some kind. A cluster of other small post-/stake-holes were located to the south-west, again outside of the main kiln, and a few other clusters of post-holes were also located west of the main kiln structure; their function is yet to be ascertained. Perhaps they are all that remains of a barn or associated feature? Further dating analysis should confirm if indeed they are all contemporary.

The kiln had clearly been in use for some time, as there was evidence for several burning episodes; it seems that the whole structure went up in flames and this may have ended its use life. After it was abandoned, the stone lining slumped inwards and layers of silting built up.

The ditch located immediately north of the kiln curved from the east to the north. It would appear to have been open at the time the kiln was active, as one of its earlier silt layers is charcoal-rich and silted up from its southern side, suggesting it was washed in from the kiln.

Threecastles, Co. Kilkenny