2005:1533 - CORNAHER, Westmeath

The excavations at Site 3.5, Cornaher, were carried out in advance of the N6 Kilbeggan–Kinnegad road scheme. The site consisted of a linear hand-dug ditch that was probably an old field boundary. The ditch was orientated north–south and measured 27m in length within the site. It had a width of 1.19m and a depth of 0.39m. The ditch contained two main fills. The upper fill was light-grey/brown silty clay and the lower fill was dark-brown silty clay. Neither of the main fills contained any datable material, except very infrequent flecks of charcoal.
A small stone-filled kiln with associated flue was identified close to the ditch, although it is unclear as to what its relationship was with it. It is possible that the kiln was used for the production of lime, as there was some burnt lime within the bowl. The flue was orientated towards the east. The bowl was subcircular in shape and measured 0.94m by 0.84m and had a depth of 0.34m. The upper fill of the bowl consisted of burnt limestone, quicklime and charcoal flecks. The lower fill consisted of a number of sub-rounded and sub-angular stones, which seemed to have been deliberately placed within the bowl cut. There were voids between the stones and this may have been to allow air to flow around the bowl. The natural clay into which the bowl was cut was extensively burnt, mainly around the sides and rim of the bowl. The flue was 1.58m in length and had a maximum depth of 0.28m. The upper fill of the flue was mid-orange/brown silty clay with much charcoal. The lower fill was light-brown sandy clay with occasional pieces of charcoal and burnt limestone.