2012:340 - Site 16-1, 2 and 3 Coolmeen, Kilkenny

Site 16-1, 2 and 3 Coolmeen was discovered during monitoring of topsoil stripping for the Bord Gáis Networks Gas to Great Island scheme (above No. 334, 12E0356).
Area 16-1 consisted of a keyhole-shaped corn-drying kiln 7.58m long, 2.36m wide (in the drying chamber) and 0.4m deep, adjacent to the townland boundary between Coolmeen and Knockwilliam. The drying chamber was formed by utilizing the natural topography and the northern arc of the drying chamber was cut into the bedrock hill, with stone coursing directly above. The drying chamber measured approximately 1.5m in diameter and was the best preserved element of the structure. The stone lining of the kiln was in poor repair. Much of it had collapsed into the flue and drying chamber in places and large stones were scattered throughout the fills. A number of stones were large and flat, especially one in the stoke hole, suggesting these represent lintel stones collapsed into the flue. Their location so close to the base of the cut would suggest that the roof of the kiln collapsed only a short period of time after abandonment. It is also highly likely that stone was robbed from the kiln and placed into the field wall directly to the east. This field boundary also has a detrimental effect in that root disturbance can be clearly seen contributing throughout the upper kiln fills.
Area 16-2 contained a large number of prehistoric features: 10 field clearance features; 25 pits; 10 isolated post-holes; five archaeological deposits; three hearth features; 168 stake-holes; a furnace and a grain silo. Many of the features excavated were isolated. Area 16-2 seems to represent prehistoric production activity, possibly at the periphery of a large settlement site off the line of the gas pipeline.
The 10 field clearance features appeared to have been the result of deforestation across the site prior to the subsequent archaeological activity. The physical evidence would indicate that trees were uprooted and burnt out across the site and then large stones were cleared from the area into the resulting cavities. Soil was then thrown in to level the features.
A group consisting of 124 stake-holes and small post-holes was centred on two hearths. These stake-holes likely represent extended use of a temporary structure over the hearths, a structure that was erected and dismantled many times. The majority of the stake-holes were filled naturally with silt material. Roughly a third of those on the northern side of the group were filled with black charcoal-rich material, likely cleaned out material from the hearths themselves, suggesting that stakes were being inserted into the ground and removed throughout the use of the features.
A furnace was located in the south-east of the site. The large amount of slag recovered and ash deposits on the surface around the feature suggests that the furnace was used multiple times. The cut was oxidised a bright red colour from the intense heat. The eastern edge was devoid of slag, with this concentrated mainly along the western half of the feature, suggesting that any blow hole for the furnace was on the western side. A waste pit was located 1m to the north-west and contained large amounts of charcoal pieces and slag deposits. Large ‘lumps’ of natural deposited in the waste pit may be remnants of any above ground furnace structure (purposefully flattened and removed) or removed clay lining. While this feature may seem to represent a bowl-furnace, with no above ground remains surviving in situ, it is unsure whether this feature represents an Irish ‘bowl-furnace’ or slag-pit furnace. The furnace pit was steep sided with a flat base and appeared to have been blown from the western side, due to the larger amount of slag down this ‘wall’. It was similar to examples at Tullyallen, Co. Louth excavated by Kieran Campbell (Excavations 2000, No. 719, 00E0944) and at Celbridge, Co. Kildare excavated by Fiona Reilly (Excavations 2001, Nos 649-651, 01E0306), both for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd (see alsoYoung 2003).
Grain silos have been identified on other sites in recent years (e.g. Hardy & Stevens 2011) with similar characteristics to that excavated at Area 16-2. The structure consisted of four large equidistant post-holes, with 1.6m between post-holes, and a central shallow feature. Each of these post-holes had been cut prior to use. A post was then inserted and packing stones deposited around these to stabilize them. These posts must have been large in size and supported a substantial structure, or one to bear a heavy load. The posts were removed after use and many of the packing stones then collapsed into the base of the features. All of the post-holes contained prehistoric pottery and this appears to have been purposefully deposited into the features. The central feature is unusual in that it is very shallow and seems to have filled naturally after use. It is possible that this feature represents a fifth flat-bottomed post that sat upon the natural, which would have been knocked into the centre after construction of the structure to support any platform being held up by the four corner posts. This central post would then have sunk into the ground slightly due to the weight it supported.
Area 16-3 comprised four pits, three directly adjacent to one another. Three out of the four features had filled naturally after use. The fourth contained much charcoal and appeared to have been purposefully backfilled.

Site 16-1, 2 and 3 Coolmeen, grain silo after excavation.

References:
Hardy, C and Stevens, P, 2011, N7 Castletown to Nenagh Road Improvement Scheme Contract 2, Final report Camlin/Derrymore 1, Co. Tipperary, E3744, Unpublished Valerie J Keeley Ltd report
Young, T, 2003, ‘Is the Irish iron-smelting bowl furnace a myth? A discussion of new evidence for Irish bloomery iron making’, GeoArch (unpublished)

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